A patient is diagnosed with hypertension.
What is the initial recommendation for this patient likely to be?

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.

Listeriosis is a foodborne illness that can have severe consequences during pregnancy. To minimize the risk of listeriosis, a pregnant client should avoid certain foods that are more likely to be contaminated with the bacteria Listeria. The correct statement that indicates an understanding of the teaching is:

C) "I can eat grilled chicken on a bun at lunchtime."

Grilled chicken is a safe option, and as long as it's properly cooked, it's a suitable choice during pregnancy. The other options are not recommended during pregnancy:

A) Soft cheeses, like Brie or feta, can carry a risk of Listeria contamination, so they should be avoided.

B) Seafood salad from the grocery store may not be safe as it could contain seafood that's been sitting at improper temperatures, which can increase the risk of foodborne illness.

D) Hot dogs can also be a risk as they are often not served steaming hot, which is necessary to kill any potential Listeria contamination.