A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetes insipidus.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

The question is about calculating the volume of phenytoin oral solution that the nurse should administer per dose. The client is prescribed 250 mg of phenytoin and the available solution has a concentration of 25 mg/5 mL.

Let’s calculate the volume step by step:

Step 1: Identify the prescribed dose and the concentration of the available medication. The prescribed dose is 250 mg and the concentration of the available medication is 25 mg/5 mL.

Step 2: Set up the calculation. We want to find out how many mL correspond to the prescribed dose. We can set up the calculation as follows: (Prescribed dose ÷ Concentration) × Volume.

Step 3: Substitute the known values into the calculation. This gives us: (250 mg ÷ 25 mg/5 mL).

Step 4: Perform the division operation first due to the order of operations (BIDMAS/BODMAS). This gives us: (250 mg ÷ 5 mg/mL).

Step 5: Perform the final calculation. This gives us: 50 mL.

So, the nurse should administer 50 mL of the phenytoin oral solution per dose.

Please note that this calculation assumes that the prescribed dose (250 mg) is to be administered in one go. If the dose is to be split over the day, the volume to be administered would change accordingly.

Choice A rationale:

Shortness of breath is a common symptom of a hypersensitivity reaction. This occurs because the body’s immune system responds to a foreign substance, known as an antigen, by producing specific antibodies. This immune response can cause inflammation and swelling in various parts of the body, including the airways, leading to shortness of breath.

Choice B rationale:

A black hairy tongue is not typically associated with a hypersensitivity reaction. It is a condition that causes the tongue to appear black and hairy, and it’s usually caused by an overgrowth of bacteria or yeast on the tongue. It’s not related to allergies or hypersensitivity reactions.

Choice C rationale:

Itching is another common symptom of a hypersensitivity reaction. When the body encounters an antigen, it triggers an immune response that releases chemicals like histamine. Histamine can cause itching, among other symptoms.

Choice D rationale:

Swelling of the tongue can be a symptom of a severe hypersensitivity reaction known as anaphylaxis. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. The swelling is caused by inflammation in response to an antigen.

Choice E rationale:

Wheezing is a symptom of a hypersensitivity reaction, specifically type I hypersensitivity. This type of reaction includes allergic disorders, which affect the lungs among other parts of the body. The immune response to an antigen can cause the airways to narrow and produce a wheezing sound.