A nurse is preparing to titrate a continuous nitroprusside infusion for a client. The nurse should plan to titrate the infusion according to which of the following assessments?
Blood pressure
Stroke volume
Cardiac output
Urine output
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A Reason:
Blood pressure is correct. Nitroprusside is a medication used to lower blood pressure in conditions such as hypertensive emergencies. It's titrated based on blood pressure readings, with the goal of achieving the desired target blood pressure range as directed by the healthcare provider. The nurse would monitor the client's blood pressure closely and adjust the infusion rate accordingly to achieve the prescribed blood pressure parameters.
Choice B Reason:
Stroke volume is incorrect. While stroke volume (the amount of blood ejected by the heart with each contraction) is important in assessing heart function, it's not directly used to titrate a nitroprusside infusion. Nitroprusside primarily acts as a vasodilator to reduce blood pressure, rather than affecting stroke volume.
Choice C Reason:
Cardiac output is incorrect. Cardiac output (the volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute) is also a crucial measure of heart function, but adjusting a nitroprusside infusion based on cardiac output is not a common practice. Nitroprusside's primary action is to dilate blood vessels, impacting blood pressure regulation more directly than cardiac output.
Choice D Reason:
Urine output is incorrect. While urine output is an important indicator of renal function and overall fluid balance, it is not typically used as the main parameter for titrating nitroprusside. Nitroprusside's primary effect is on vasodilation and blood pressure control rather than directly impacting urine output.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Hypomagnesemia is incorrect. Lithium therapy itself is not a direct cause of hypomagnesemia. While exercise can affect magnesium levels to some extent, it's not a primary electrolyte imbalance that is typically associated with lithium use or considered a significant concern specifically due to lithium.
Choice B Reason:
Hypocalcemia is incorrect. Similarly, lithium therapy is not a direct cause of hypocalcemia. Exercise can affect calcium metabolism, but it's not a primary electrolyte imbalance typically associated with lithium use or considered a significant concern specifically due to lithium.
When a client taking lithium begins a new exercise program, the nurse should primarily assess for the risk of:
Choice C Reason:
Hyponatremia is correct. Lithium can affect the body's regulation of sodium, and excessive sweating due to increased exercise can lead to sodium loss. This combination can potentially contribute to the development of hyponatremia (low sodium levels). Therefore, when a client on lithium starts a new exercise regimen that may induce sweating, monitoring for signs of hyponatremia becomes crucial. Symptoms of hyponatremia can include confusion, headaches, nausea, and in severe cases, seizures or coma.
Choice D Reason:
Hypokalemia is incorrect. Lithium itself does not commonly cause hypokalemia. Exercise can lead to potassium loss through sweating, but hypokalemia is not the primary electrolyte imbalance typically associated with lithium use or considered a significant concern specifically due to lithium.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Contact the provider to clarify the prescription is not appropriate. Contacting the provider might not be necessary in this case. The prescription specifies "NOW," indicating an urgent administration, which is a clear directive to administer the medication promptly without further clarification.
Choice B Reason:
Administer the medication within 90 minutes is appropriate. "NOW" typically implies an urgent need for administration, and within a hospital setting, "NOW" often indicates a timeframe of around 90 minutes for prompt administration of the medication.
Choice C Reason:
Notify the pharmacy to send the medication immediately is inappropriate. With the prescription stating "NOW," the need for immediate administration usually requires using the hospital's available stock of the medication rather than waiting for delivery from the pharmacy. This action might cause a delay in administration.
Choice D Reason:
Inform the client there is a prescription available if needed is inappropriate. This option is not suitable in this scenario. "NOW" in the prescription implies the immediate need for administration, so informing the client about the availability of the prescription doesn't align with the urgency implied by the directive "NOW."
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