A client taking paroxetine (Paxil) presents to the emergency room with agitation, increased sweating, and new auditory hallucinations.
What is the priority action?
Ask if the patient has started any new prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Administer an anti-anxiety medication to subdue and sedate the patient.
Place the patient in loose bilateral arm restraints.
Tell the patient that the voices they are hearing are not real.
The Correct Answer is A
This is because the patient may be experiencing serotonin toxicity, a potentially life- threatening condition caused by excessive levels of serotonin in the brain. Paroxetine (Paxil) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that increases serotonin levels, and some other medications or supplements may interact with it and cause serotonin toxicity. Some of the symptoms of serotonin toxicity include agitation, increased sweating, and hallucinations.
Choice B is wrong because administering an anti-anxiety medication may worsen serotonin toxicity, especially if the medication is also an SSRI or another serotonergic agent.
Choice C is wrong because placing the patient in loose bilateral arm restraints may increase the risk of injury or agitation, and does not address the underlying cause of the symptoms.
Choice D is wrong because telling the patient that the voices they are hearing are not real may not be helpful or reassuring, and may also increase the patient’s distress or confusion.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
. Document the findings and continue to monitor the wound. This is because a 2-day-old wound that has a crust along the edges, is red and appears slightly swollen is likely in the inflammatory phase of wound healing. This phase is characterized by hemostasis, chemotaxis, and increased vascular permeability, which can
cause redness and swelling. The crust along the edges is formed by the clotting of blood and platelets.
These are normal signs of wound healing and do not indicate infection or complications.
Choice A is wrong because applying warm soaks to reduce inflammation can interfere with the natural process of wound healing and increase the risk of infection.
Choice B is wrong because notifying the health care provider immediately of the infection is not necessary unless there are other signs of infection such as fever, pus, foul odor, or increased pain.
Choice C is wrong because placing the client on contact (wound) precautions is not required for a 2-day-old wound that is not infected or draining. Wound precautions are only indicated for wounds that are colonized or infected by multidrug-resistant organisms.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Using an automatic BP cuff with a shivering client with a history of an irregular heart rate can result in inaccurate and low readings.
This is because shivering can interfere with the cuff inflation and deflation, and an irregular heart rate can affect the accuracy of the device.
The nurse should intervene and use a manual BP cuff with a stethoscope instead.
Choice B is wrong because pulling the client’s ear pinna backward, up and out to obtain a tympanic membrane temperature is the correct technique for adults and older children. This helps to straighten the ear canal and allow the light to reflect on the tympanic membrane, which shares the same vascular artery as the hypothalamus.
Choice C is wrong because counting the client’s radial pulse who is supine with the forearm straight alongside the body is an appropriate method.
The radial pulse can be easily palpated at the wrist, and the supine position and straight forearm do not affect the pulse rate.
Choice D is wrong because counting the respirations for one full minute for a client with tachypnea is a recommended practice.
Tachypnea means rapid breathing, and counting for one full minute can ensure accuracy and detect any variations in the respiratory pattern.
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