A client who is taking methylprednisolone reports feeling thirsty. Which action should the nurse take first?
Monitor urinary output.
Notify the healthcare provider (HCP).
Prepare to give insulin.
Obtain fingerstick blood glucose.
The Correct Answer is D
A. Monitor urinary output: While monitoring output is important, it does not provide immediate diagnostic information regarding the cause of the client’s thirst. It is a supportive action but not the most efficient first step to investigate potential hyperglycemia.
B. Notify the healthcare provider (HCP): Notifying the HCP is appropriate if there are abnormal findings or the client’s condition worsens. However, the nurse should gather objective data—such as a blood glucose reading—before contacting the provider.
C. Prepare to give insulin: Insulin should not be administered without confirmation of elevated blood glucose. Giving insulin without verifying hyperglycemia could lead to serious complications, including hypoglycemia.
D. Obtain fingerstick blood glucose: Methylprednisolone, a corticosteroid, can raise blood glucose levels, and excessive thirst is a classic symptom of hyperglycemia. Checking the client’s blood glucose is the most appropriate first action to determine if elevated glucose is causing the symptom.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Start the second course of therapy after an 8-week delay: While a second course of isotretinoin may sometimes be considered after a break if acne persists, this timing is medication management guidance and is less urgent than immediate safety concerns like sun sensitivity.
B. Consider an alternative summer job, other than life guarding: Isotretinoin causes extreme photosensitivity, making prolonged sun exposure dangerous. Adolescents working outdoors, like lifeguards, are at high risk for severe sunburns, so suggesting alternative employment protects their health.
C. Store the medicine in a plastic, tight, light resistant container: Proper medication storage is important but not the most critical concern compared to preventing serious adverse effects like sunburn, teratogenicity, or psychiatric symptoms with isotretinoin use.
D. Discontinue all multivitamins during acne medication therapy: There is generally no need to discontinue all multivitamins while taking isotretinoin unless specifically instructed by the healthcare provider. Some multivitamins contain vitamin A, excessive intake of vitamin A should be avoided. However, discontinuing all multivitamins without guidance could lead to other nutritional deficiencies.
Correct Answer is ["B","C","D"]
Explanation
A. May stop taking medication if no symptoms of GI discomfort: Pantoprazole is prescribed prophylactically in burn clients to prevent stress ulcers, not just to treat existing symptoms. Stopping it without medical advice could increase the risk of serious complications like gastric bleeding.
B. Explain that pantoprazole may be taken with or without food: Pantoprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), can be taken without regard to meals. Educating the client on flexible timing improves adherence and reduces confusion about the medication regimen.
C. Teach the client about risk of developing a Curling's ulcer: Severe burns increase the risk of Curling’s ulcer, a stress-related gastric ulcer. Explaining this risk helps the client understand the preventative role of pantoprazole in their overall care plan.
D. Discuss the risk of gastric bleeding related to severe burns: Gastric bleeding is a serious, potentially life-threatening complication associated with stress ulcers in burn patients. Teaching the client about this risk provides a clear rationale for continuing pantoprazole therapy.
E. Tell how pantoprazole effectively heals ulcers: While pantoprazole can treat ulcers, in this case it is prescribed to prevent ulcer formation rather than to heal an existing ulcer. The teaching should focus on prevention, not healing.
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