A male college student has presented to the campus medical clinic reporting cold symptoms that he has been experiencing for the past 2 weeks. He tells the nurse that he has been taking OTC decongestants twice daily since the onset of the cold. What teaching point should the nurse provide to this student?

"It's best to take small doses of decongestants several times daily rather than two larger doses each day."

"You can probably expect to get relief within the next few days or a week at the longest."

“Over-the-counter decongestants don't normally work; you'll likely need to get a prescription for something more effective."

"You might find yourself more congested than ever as your body compensates for your use of these drugs."

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A. Taking smaller doses of decongestants several times a day may be appropriate for some medications but does not address the risk of rebound congestion associated with prolonged use.

B. Expecting relief within a few days may not be realistic if the cold symptoms persist for 2 weeks, indicating a potential need for further evaluation.

C. OTC decongestants can be effective, and many patients find relief from symptoms without requiring a prescription.

D. Using decongestants for an extended period can lead to rebound congestion, where nasal passages become more congested once the medication is stopped, making this a crucial point for the nurse to communicate.

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Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Phenylephrine is a decongestant that can raise blood pressure, making it contraindicated for individuals with hypertension. Advising a patient with hypertension to avoid phenylephrine is essential to prevent potential cardiovascular complications.

B. While patients with diabetes should be cautious about certain medications, phenylephrine is not specifically contraindicated in this condition.

C. A 17-year-old female with an upper respiratory infection typically does not have contraindications for phenylephrine unless there are underlying conditions not mentioned.

D. Gout does not have a direct contraindication for phenylephrine use, so the patient may not need to avoid it unless other health issues are present.

A. Improved sleep B. Decreased anxiety C. Reduced appetite D. Weight loss E. Interest in physical activity

Correct Answer is ["A","B","E"]

Explanation

A. Improved sleep is correct; an effective antidepressant can help normalize sleep patterns, which is a positive indicator of treatment efficacy.

B. Decreased anxiety is correct; fluoxetine is also effective in treating anxiety symptoms, so a reduction indicates the medication is working.

C. Reduced appetite is incorrect; while some individuals may experience appetite changes, a reduced appetite is not an indicator of effectiveness and could indicate a side effect.

D. Weight loss is incorrect; while weight loss can occur, it is not a definitive measure of the effectiveness of fluoxetine and can also signify side effects.

E. Interest in physical activity is correct; an increase in motivation and engagement in activities is a strong indicator of improvement in depressive symptoms.

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Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Which patient should be advised by the nurse to avoid over-the-counter cold and allergy preparations that contain phenylephrine?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The nurse is caring for a client taking fluoxetine for depression. Which assessment findings indicate that the medication is effective? (Select all that apply.)

Correct Answer is ["A","B","E"]

Explanation

A patient is prescribed long-acting insulin (glargine) for basal control of blood glucose. Which statement by the nurse is correct when educating the patient?

When researching information about a drug, the nurse finds that the drug tightly binds to protein. The nurse would interpret this to mean that the drug will:

A client has been prescribed a tricyclic antidepressant and the nurse recognizes the client's associated risk for anticholinergic effects. What should the nurse teach the client about preventing and managing these adverse effects? (Select all that apply.)

A patient asks how metformin works to control blood sugar. What is the nurse's best response?

A client previously experienced a severe anaphylactic reaction to penicillin G. Which medication class should not be administered to this client due to the potential for cross-sensitivity?

The nurse would contact the health care provider before administering an adrenergic drug to a client who is also taking which drug?

Convert to equivalents within the metric system. 250 micrograms to grams

A client has been prescribed an oral drug that is known to have a high first-pass effect. Which measure has the potential to increase the amount of the free drug that is available to body cells?