A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for sertraline to treat depression.
For which of the following findings should the nurse instruct the client to monitor and report immediately as indicating serotonin syndrome?
Insomnia.
Constipation.
Dry mouth.
Excessive sweating.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A rationale:
Insomnia is a common side effect of sertraline and many other antidepressant medications. It is not indicative of serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by excessive serotonin levels in the brain.
Choice B rationale:
Constipation is a side effect of some antidepressant medications, including sertraline. It is not a symptom of serotonin syndrome, which presents with a combination of symptoms such as confusion, agitation, rapid heart rate, dilated pupils, muscle rigidity, and high body temperature.
Choice C rationale:
Dry mouth is another common side effect of sertraline and many other medications. While uncomfortable, it is not a sign of serotonin syndrome. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome are neurological and autonomic, involving changes in mental status, muscle activity, and vital signs.
Choice D rationale:
Excessive sweating, also known as diaphoresis, can be a symptom of serotonin syndrome. Other symptoms might include agitation, tremor, hyperreflexia, fever, dilated pupils, and diarrhea. If a patient experiences these symptoms while taking sertraline, it could indicate serotonin syndrome and should be reported immediately for medical evaluation.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Hospice care includes bereavement support for the family for up to a year after the client's death.
- B is incorrect because the hospice nurse does not administer pain medication, but rather teaches the family how to manage the client's pain at home.
- C is incorrect because respite care is one of the services that hospice provides to allow the family to take a break from caregiving.
- D is incorrect because hospice care does not aim to prolong life, but rather to provide comfort and quality of life for the client and the family.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
- A is incorrect because diarrhea is not an adverse effect of clonidine, but rather a symptom of other conditions such as infection, inflammation, or food intolerance.
- B is correct because dry mouth is a common adverse effect of clonidine, which is an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that reduces sympathetic nervous system activity.
- C is incorrect because photophobia, or sensitivity to light, is not an adverse effect of clonidine, but rather a symptom of other conditions such as migraine, eye injury, or infection.
- D is incorrect because bruising, or bleeding under the skin, is not an adverse effect of clonidine, but rather a symptom of other conditions such as coagulation disorders, vitamin deficiency, or trauma.
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