A patient has been placed on a loop diuretic to reduce the fluid that has been accumulating in the lungs.
Which statement made by the patient indicates a need for further teaching about the medication by the nurse?
“I weigh myself each day before breakfast.”.
“If my shortness of breath returns, I’ll contact my healthcare provider.”.
“I’ll have a banana with my breakfast every morning.”.
“I’ll be sure to take my medication with supper.”.
The Correct Answer is D
Taking a loop diuretic with supper is not advisable because it can cause nocturia, which is the need to urinate frequently at night. This can disrupt sleep and affect quality of life. Loop diuretics should be taken in the morning or early afternoon to avoid this problem.
Choice A is wrong because weighing oneself each day before breakfast is a good way to monitor fluid balance and detect any signs of fluid retention or dehydration. This can help adjust the dose of the loop diuretic as needed.
Choice B is wrong because contacting the healthcare provider if shortness of breath returns is a sensible precaution and indicates awareness of the symptoms of worsening heart failure. Shortness of breath is caused by fluid accumulation in the lungs, which loop diuretics help to prevent or reduce.
Choice C is wrong because having a banana with breakfast every morning is a good source of potassium, which can help prevent hypokalemia, a common side effect of loop diuretics. Loop diuretics increase the excretion of potassium in the urine, which can lead to low blood levels of potassium and cause muscle weakness, cramps, fatigue, arrhythmias, and increased sensitivity to digoxin.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Urecholine is the brand name of bethanechol, a drug that belongs to the class of cholinergics, genitourinary.
Choice A is wrong because adrenergic drugs are those that activate the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the fight-or-flight response.Adrenergic drugs can cause relaxation of the bladder and urinary retention, not contraction and emptying.
Choice B is wrong because anticholinergic drugs are those that block the action of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that mediates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the rest-and-digest response.Anticholinergic drugs can also cause relaxation of the bladder and urinary retention, not contraction and emptying.
Choice D is wrong because adrenergic blockers are those that inhibit the action of adrenergic receptors, which are activated by adrenergic drugs or by the natural neurotransmitters norepinephrine and epinephrine.Adrenergic blockers can have various effects on the bladder depending on the type and location of the receptors they block, but they are not used to treat urinary retention.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Furosemide is a diuretic that lowers blood pressure and increases urine output. It also causes potassium loss, which can lead to hypokalemia (low potassium levels). The patient’s blood pressure is already low when sitting, and the serum potassium is below the normal range of 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L. Administering furosemide could worsen these conditions and cause adverse effects such as dehydration, dizziness, muscle weakness, cardiac arrhythmias, and renal impairment. Therefore, the nurse should contact the provider before giving the medication and report the vital signs and laboratory results.
Choice A. Administer medication is wrong because it could harm the patient as explained above.
Choice C. Hold medication until next dose is wrong because it does not address the underlying problem of fluid retention and hypokalemia.
The nurse should not delay notifying the provider about the patient’s condition.
Choice D. Check urine output before giving medication is wrong because it is not enough to ensure the patient’s safety.
The nurse should also check the blood pressure and serum potassium levels, which are more critical indicators of the patient’s status.
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