A home health nurse has a patient who is taking lithium. What should be included in the teaching plan?
Take her blood pressure twice a day to check for hypertension.
Have her drug blood level checked every month.
Avoid aged cheese and red wine.
Examine her skin closely for eruptions.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Take her blood pressure twice a day to check for hypertension. Lithium does not typically cause hypertension. Monitoring blood pressure is not a primary concern for patients on lithium.
B. Have her drug blood level checked every month. Regular monitoring of lithium blood levels is crucial to ensure therapeutic levels and avoid toxicity. Lithium has a narrow therapeutic window, and frequent monitoring helps in adjusting the dose to maintain safe and effective levels.
C. Avoid aged cheese and red wine. This advice is relevant for patients taking MAOIs, not lithium. There is no need for patients on lithium to avoid these foods specifically.
D. Examine her skin closely for eruptions. While skin eruptions can be a side effect of some medications, it is not a primary concern for patients on lithium. The focus should be on monitoring for signs of lithium toxicity and other common side effects like tremors, thyroid dysfunction, and renal impairment.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Help the patient interact in nonaddictive activities. While engaging in nonaddictive activities is important for long-term recovery, the primary concern during the detoxification period is managing withdrawal symptoms and ensuring safety.
B. Enroll the patient in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Enrolling in AA or similar support groups is beneficial for ongoing recovery, but the focus during detoxification should be on managing acute withdrawal symptoms and safety.
C. Keep the patient safe from aspiration and seizure. During detoxification, patients are at risk for serious complications such as seizures and aspiration due to withdrawal symptoms. Ensuring patient safety by monitoring for these conditions is a primary goal.
D. Help the patient gain insight into the addiction. Gaining insight into addiction is important for long-term recovery but is not the immediate priority during the detoxification period, which focuses on managing physical withdrawal symptoms and ensuring patient safety.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Very disruptive to a person in society: This description is judgmental and not specific to documenting behavior objectively.
B. Differing from socially acceptable behavior: Documenting behavior as differing from socially acceptable norms provides an objective, non-judgmental account of the patient’s behavior.
C. Causing the person to be involved in problems: This focuses on the outcomes of the behavior rather than describing the behavior itself.
D. Resulting from an inability to exercise control: This may imply a lack of control but does not objectively describe the behavior for documentation purposes.
Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.
Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today
Report Wrong Answer on the Current Question
Do you disagree with the answer? If yes, what is your expected answer? Explain.
Kindly be descriptive with the issue you are facing.