A nurse is assessing a client who has a heart rate of 40/min. The client is diaphoretic and has chest pain. Which of the following medications should the nurse plan to administer?

Choice A Reason

Maintain strict bed rest. This intervention is not typically recommended for managing Ménière’s disease. While rest during acute vertigo episodes is important, strict bed rest is not necessary and can lead to other complications such as muscle atrophy and decreased mobility.

Choice B Reason

Restrict fluid intake to the morning hours. This statement is incorrect. Fluid intake should be evenly distributed throughout the day to help manage the symptoms of Ménière’s disease. Restricting fluids to the morning hours can lead to dehydration and does not effectively manage the condition.

Choice C Reason

Administer aspirin. This intervention is not recommended for Ménière’s disease. Aspirin can worsen tinnitus, a common symptom of Ménière’s disease, and is generally avoided in these patients.

Choice D Reason

Provide a low-sodium diet. This is the correct intervention. A low-sodium diet helps reduce fluid retention in the body, which can decrease the pressure in the inner ear and help manage the symptoms of Ménière’s disease. Reducing sodium intake to 1,500-2,000 milligrams per day is often recommended.

Choice A Reason

“Your provider will use stool from your digital rectal examination to perform the test.” This statement is incorrect. For fecal occult blood testing, stool samples are typically collected at home using a special kit provided by the healthcare provider. The samples are then sent to a lab for analysis. Using stool from a digital rectal examination is not the standard procedure for FOBT.

Choice B Reason

“Your provider will prescribe a stimulant laxative prior to the procedure to evacuate the bowel.” This statement is incorrect. Stimulant laxatives are not typically prescribed before an FOBT. The test requires a small sample of stool, and using a laxative could interfere with the results. Patients are usually advised to follow specific dietary and medication guidelines to avoid false positives or negatives.

Choice C Reason

“You should begin annual fecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer screening at 40 years old.” This statement is incorrect. Current guidelines recommend starting colorectal cancer screening, including FOBT, at age 45 for individuals at average risk. Screening may start earlier for those with a higher risk, such as a family history of colorectal cancer.

Choice D Reason

“You should avoid taking corticosteroids prior to testing.” This is the correct statement. Corticosteroids can cause gastrointestinal irritation and bleeding, which may lead to false-positive results in fecal occult blood tests. Therefore, it is important to avoid these medications before testing.