A nurse cares for a patient who is prescribed lactulose (Heptalac). The patient states, "I do not want to take this medication because it causes diarrhea." How would the nurse respond?

Diarrhea is expected; that's how your body gets rid of ammonia.

You may take Kaopectate liquid daily for loose stools.

Do not take any more of the medication until your stools firm up.

We will need to send a stool specimen to the laboratory.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A reason: Explaining that diarrhea is expected and that it is how the body gets rid of ammonia is accurate. Lactulose is often prescribed for patients with hepatic encephalopathy, and its purpose is to reduce blood ammonia levels by promoting bowel movements. Diarrhea is a common and anticipated side effect, as it helps eliminate ammonia from the body.

Choice B reason: Recommending Kaopectate for loose stools is not appropriate in this context. Kaopectate is an anti-diarrheal medication, and using it would counteract the effect of lactulose, which aims to promote bowel movements to reduce ammonia levels.

Choice C reason: Instructing the patient to stop taking the medication until stools firm up is incorrect. Lactulose should be continued as prescribed to maintain its therapeutic effect of reducing blood ammonia levels. Stopping the medication would negate its benefits and potentially worsen the patient's condition.

Choice D reason: Suggesting to send a stool specimen to the laboratory is unnecessary in this scenario. Diarrhea is an expected side effect of lactulose, and there is no indication that a stool specimen needs to be analyzed unless there are signs of infection or other complications.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Pulmonary embolism is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in the lungs, usually caused by blood clots that travel to the lungs from the legs or other parts of the body. The signs and symptoms include sudden shortness of breath, rapid breathing (tachypnea), rapid heart rate (tachycardia), and anxiety. These symptoms align with the patient's presentation and are common in the post-operative period, particularly after orthopedic surgery, which increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and subsequent pulmonary embolism.

Choice B reason: Left-sided heart failure can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and fluid retention. However, the acute presentation of difficulty breathing, tachypnea, tachycardia, and anxiety in the context of recent surgery is more suggestive of a pulmonary embolism. Heart failure symptoms generally develop gradually rather than suddenly.

Choice C reason: Early onset dementia is not characterized by acute respiratory symptoms like difficulty breathing, tachypnea, or tachycardia. Dementia symptoms typically include memory loss, confusion, and changes in cognitive function, not the acute cardiorespiratory symptoms described in this scenario.

Choice D reason: Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, and rapid heart rate. While it is a possibility, the combination of recent surgery and the described symptoms more strongly suggests a pulmonary embolism. An acute myocardial infarction would typically also present with chest pain, which is not mentioned in this scenario.

A. Reposition the patient frequently and promote deep breathing. B. Infuse the dialysate slowly. C. Use strict aseptic technique in the dialysis procedures. D. Have the patient empty the bowel before the inflow phase.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: Repositioning the patient frequently and promoting deep breathing are important interventions for various conditions, particularly for preventing atelectasis and respiratory complications. However, they are not directly related to preventing the most common serious complication of peritoneal dialysis, which is peritonitis.

Choice B reason: Infusing the dialysate slowly can help manage discomfort and ensure proper fluid exchange during peritoneal dialysis. However, it does not address the most serious complication, which is infection.

Choice C reason: Using strict aseptic technique in dialysis procedures is crucial in preventing peritonitis, the most serious and common complication of peritoneal dialysis. Peritonitis is an infection of the peritoneal cavity and can lead to severe complications if not prevented. Adhering to aseptic techniques during catheter insertion, connection, disconnection, and any other procedure involving the dialysis system is essential to reduce the risk of infection.

Choice D reason: Having the patient empty the bowel before the inflow phase can help ensure adequate space in the peritoneal cavity for the dialysate and prevent discomfort. However, this action does not directly prevent the serious complication of peritonitis.

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A nurse cares for a patient who is prescribed lactulose (Heptalac). The patient states, "I do not want to take this medication because it causes diarrhea." How would the nurse respond?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A 76-year-old patient is 2 days post-op total hip replacement. The patient puts his call light on to complain of difficulty catching his breath. As the nurse assesses the patient, she finds the patient tachypneic, tachycardic, and very anxious. The nurse determines these are most likely signs of:

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

To prevent the most common serious complication of peritoneal dialysis, it is important for the nurse to:

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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