A client who is hypotensive is receiving dopamine, an adrenergic agonist, intravenously (IV) at the rate of 8 mcg/kg/min. Which intervention should the nurse implement while administering this medication?
Measure urinary output every hour.
Initiate seizure precautions.
Assess pupillary response to light hourly.
Monitor serum potassium frequently.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Measure urinary output every hour. Dopamine is commonly used to improve blood pressure and renal perfusion in hypotensive clients. Monitoring urinary output is crucial because dopamine can increase renal blood flow and urine output. Hourly measurement allows for early detection of changes in renal function and urine output, enabling prompt intervention if needed.
B. Initiate seizure precautions. Seizures are not a common adverse effect of dopamine administration. Therefore, initiating seizure precautions is unnecessary in this context.
C. Assess pupillary response to light hourly. While assessing pupillary response is important in neurological assessments, it is not a priority intervention specifically related to dopamine
administration for hypotension.
D. Monitor serum potassium frequently. Dopamine administration is not directly associated with alterations in serum potassium levels. While electrolyte monitoring is important in some
situations, it is not the primary concern when administering dopamine for hypotension. Monitoring urinary output is more pertinent in this scenario.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Provide only distilled water. Providing only distilled water is not appropriate in this situation.
The client's weight gain and electrolyte imbalance indicate the need for careful monitoring and intervention, but restricting fluid intake to distilled water alone may not address the underlying issues adequately.
B. Document abdominal girth. Documenting abdominal girth is important to assess for signs of ascites, which can occur in hepatic failure. A sudden weight gain and elevated blood pressure may indicate fluid retention, and documenting abdominal girth can provide additional information about fluid accumulation in the abdomen.
C. Offer a high protein diet. While nutritional support is important for clients with hepatic failure, offering a high protein diet may not be appropriate if the client has an electrolyte imbalance. Protein intake should be balanced and monitored carefully to avoid exacerbating the imbalance.
D. Use a cushion when sitting. Using a cushion when sitting may be beneficial for comfort, but it does not directly address the identified issues of electrolyte imbalance, elevated blood pressure, and weight gain. The priority is to assess and address these concerns through appropriate
interventions such as documenting abdominal girth and addressing fluid retention.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Begin abdominal girth measurements.
Abdominal girth measurements may be important for assessing fluid status in clients with liver disease and ascites, but in this case, the elevated polymorphonuclear leukocyte count indicates a possible infection, requiring immediate intervention.
B. Review serum protein levels.
While monitoring serum protein levels is important in clients with liver disease, the priority in this situation is to address the potential infection indicated by the elevated leukocyte count.
C. Assess neurological status.
Neurological assessment may be relevant in some cases, but it is not the priority in a client with suspected infection after a paracentesis.
D. Initiate antibiotic therapy.
Given the client's symptoms and the elevated polymorphonuclear leukocyte count in the ascitic fluid, indicating possible infection (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis), initiating antibiotic therapy is the priority action to address the infection and prevent further complications.
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