A client diagnosed with bipolar disorder has recently started taking lamotrigine as part of their medication regimen. Which of the following would be an essential teaching point to include regarding the medication?

Choice A rationale:

Planning to have the client lay down for 1 hour after meals is not an appropriate intervention for a client with COPD. It may increase the risk of aspiration and worsen their breathing difficulties.

Choice C rationale:

Encouraging the client to use the upper chest for respiration is not the best approach for a client with COPD. Pursed-lip breathing helps improve oxygen exchange and decreases air trapping, which is more effective in managing COPD.

Choice D rationale:

Restricting the client's fluid intake to less than 1 Vday is not a suitable intervention for a client with COPD. Dehydration can lead to thicker mucus, making it harder to breathe

Choice A reason: Performing carotid massage is not an appropriate action for the nurse to take because it can worsen the client's condition by decreasing the blood flow to the brain, causing further ischemia or hemorrhagE. Carotid massage is a technique that involves applying pressure to the carotid artery to slow down the heart rate, which can be dangerous for clients who have a strokE.

Choice B reason: Calling for help is an appropriate action for the nurse to take because it can initiate the rapid response team and activate the stroke protocol, which can improve the client's outcome and survival. The nurse should also assess the client's vital signs, neurological status, and time of symptom onset, and report them to the health care provider.

Choice C reason: Providing the client with water to test the gag reflex is not an appropriate action for the nurse to take because it can increase the risk of aspiration and pneumonia, which can complicate the client's recovery and prognosis. The nurse should avoid giving anything by mouth to the client until their swallowing ability is evaluated by a speech therapist or a swallow study.

Choice D reason: Administering thrombolytics is not an appropriate action for the nurse to take because it requires a physician's order and confirmation of the type and cause of stroke by a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Thrombolytics are drugs that dissolve blood clots and restore blood flow, which can be beneficial for clients who have ischemic stroke, but harmful for clients who have hemorrhagic strokE.