A client who is prescribed lithium carbonate is being discharged from inpatient care. Which medication information should the nurse teach this client?
Have serum lithium levels checked every 6 months.
Adjust the dose if you feel out of control.
Do not reduce normal dietary sodium intake.
Limit fluid intake to 1,000 mL of fluid per day.
The Correct Answer is C
C. Sodium intake can influence lithium excretion and affect serum lithium levels. Maintaining a consistent and adequate sodium intake is important for stabilizing serum lithium levels and optimizing the medication's therapeutic effects.
A. Patients should have their serum lithium levels checked regularly, typically every 3 months, not just every 6 months as suggested.
B. Clients should never adjust their lithium dose without consulting their healthcare provider. Lithium dosage adjustments should be made only under the guidance and supervision of a healthcare professional based on the client's clinical response, serum lithium levels, and overall treatment plan.
D. Adequate hydration is essential for overall health and well-being, and dehydration can increase the risk of lithium toxicity.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
D. This recognizes that the client's improvement in mood is a typical response to antidepressant medication and does not automatically suggest any negative outcomes such as suicidal ideation or serotonin syndrome.
A. It's important to be vigilant for signs of suicidal ideation but sudden improvements in mood can also occur as a positive response to antidepressant medication.
B. The client's description of feeling better does not align with the symptoms of serotonin syndrome, which include agitation, confusion, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, and hyperthermia.
C. Antidepressant medications often take several weeks to reach their full therapeutic effect, so it's not unusual for some clients to experience an improvement in mood within the first few weeks of treatment.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
C. Splitting is characterized by viewing people and situations in extremes, either all good or all bad, without recognizing the complexity that usually exists in most circumstances. This black-and-white thinking can lead to rapidly shifting perceptions of others, as seen in the client's sudden change from idealizing the nurse to devaluing them.
A. Denial is a defense mechanism where the individual refuses to accept reality or acknowledge an aspect of reality that is apparent to others. In this scenario, the client is not denying any aspect of reality.
B. Separation-individuation is a developmental process where individuals establish autonomy and a sense of self separate from others, particularly from primary caregivers. This process is more relevant in infancy and early childhood.
D. Reaction formation is a defense mechanism where an individual behaves in a manner opposite to their true feelings or impulses. In this scenario, the client's expression of hatred towards the nurse does not appear to be a case of reaction formation, as there is no indication that the client actually harbors feelings of care or admiration towards the nurse.
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