A client has begun a long-term maintenance therapy with lithium, which has a narrow therapeutic index. Which adverse effect is most important for the nurse to include in the teaching plan?

Choice A reason: A soft diet with milk products may worsen diverticulosis, as dairy can cause bloating or intolerance. High fiber and fluids prevent constipation, reducing diverticular pressure. This is inappropriate, per dietary management and gastrointestinal health guidelines for diverticulosis in nursing education.

Choice B reason: A high fiber diet and increased fluid intake prevent constipation, reducing pressure in diverticula and preventing complications like diverticulitis. This promotes bowel regularity, critical for managing diverticulosis, per evidence-based dietary recommendations and gastrointestinal health protocols in patient education for nursing care.

Choice C reason: Small frequent meals and sitting up after meals aid digestion but do not address diverticulosis-specific needs. High fiber and fluids directly prevent constipation, reducing diverticular strain. This is less effective, per dietary management and patient teaching standards for diverticulosis in nursing.

Choice D reason: A bland diet avoiding spicy foods is unrelated to diverticulosis, which requires fiber to prevent constipation. Spicy foods do not directly affect diverticula. High fiber and fluids are critical, per gastrointestinal health and dietary management guidelines for diverticulosis in nursing education.

Choice A reason: Continuing heparin at aPTT 120 seconds is unsafe, as it exceeds the therapeutic range (38–88 seconds), indicating excessive anticoagulation. This risks bleeding, as heparin enhances antithrombin, inhibiting clotting factors. Stopping and notifying the provider prevents hemorrhage, making continuation dangerous for this DVT client.

Choice B reason: Increasing heparin is contraindicated with aPTT 120 seconds, far above therapeutic (38–88 seconds). Excessive anticoagulation from heparin’s antithrombin activation heightens bleeding risk. Stopping the infusion and notifying the provider corrects over-anticoagulation, preventing complications like hematoma, making an increase harmful and inappropriate.

Choice C reason: Stopping heparin and notifying the provider is critical at aPTT 120 seconds, indicating over-anticoagulation. Heparin’s inhibition of clotting factors increases bleeding risk in DVT treatment. Halting infusion prevents hemorrhage, and provider notification ensures dose adjustment or reversal, addressing the pathophysiological risk effectively and promptly.

Choice D reason: Administering protamine sulfate reverses heparin but requires provider order, as aPTT 120 seconds indicates high bleeding risk. Stopping infusion first prevents further anticoagulation, and notifying the provider ensures guided reversal, avoiding premature protamine use, which risks anaphylaxis or thrombosis, making this less immediate.