ATI Pharmacology Exam Questions with Answers and Explanations
1. The nurse is caring for a patient in preadmission testing. The patient has been
assigned a physical status classification by the American Society of
Anesthesiologists of ASA III. Which assessment will support this
classification?
a. Normal, healthy patient
b. Denial of any major illnesses or conditions
c. Poorly controlled hypertension with implanted pacemaker
d. Moribund patient not expected to survive without the operation
ANS: C
An ASA III rating is a patient with a severe systemic disease, such as poorly controlled
hypertension with an implanted pacemaker. ASA I is a normal healthy patient with no major
illnesses or conditions. ASA II is a patient with mild systemic disease. ASA V is a moribund
patient who is not expected to survive without the operation and includes patients with ruptured
abdominal/thoracic aneurysm or massive trauma.
2. The patient has presented to the ambulatory surgery center to have a colonoscopy.
The patient is scheduled to receive moderate sedation (conscious
sedation) during the procedure. How will the nurse interpret this information?
a. The procedure results in loss of sensation in an area of the body.
, b. The procedure requires a depressed level of consciousness.
c. The procedure will be performed on an outpatient basis.
d. The procedure necessitates the patient to be immobile.
ANS: B
Moderate sedation (conscious sedation) is used routinely for procedures that do not require
complete anesthesia but rather a depressed level of consciousness. Not all patients who are
treated on an outpatient basis receive moderate sedation. Regional anesthesia such as local
anesthesia provides loss of sensation in an area of the body. General anesthesia is used for
patients who need to be immobile and to not remember the surgical procedure.
1. The nurse is caring for a patient in preadmission testing. The patient has been
assigned a physical status classification by the American Society of
Anesthesiologists of ASA III. Which assessment will support this
classification?
a. Normal, healthy patient
b. Denial of any major illnesses or conditions
c. Poorly controlled hypertension with implanted pacemaker
d. Moribund patient not expected to survive without the operation
ANS: C
An ASA III rating is a patient with a severe systemic disease, such as poorly controlled
hypertension with an implanted pacemaker. ASA I is a normal healthy patient with no major
illnesses or conditions. ASA II is a patient with mild systemic disease. ASA V is a moribund
patient who is not expected to survive without the operation and includes patients with ruptured
abdominal/thoracic aneurysm or massive trauma.
2. The patient has presented to the ambulatory surgery center to have a colonoscopy.
The patient is scheduled to receive moderate sedation (conscious
sedation) during the procedure. How will the nurse interpret this information?
a. The procedure results in loss of sensation in an area of the body.
, b. The procedure requires a depressed level of consciousness.
c. The procedure will be performed on an outpatient basis.
d. The procedure necessitates the patient to be immobile.
ANS: B
Moderate sedation (conscious sedation) is used routinely for procedures that do not require
complete anesthesia but rather a depressed level of consciousness. Not all patients who are
treated on an outpatient basis receive moderate sedation. Regional anesthesia such as local
anesthesia provides loss of sensation in an area of the body. General anesthesia is used for
patients who need to be immobile and to not remember the surgical procedure.
