A patient recently prescribed a calcium channel blocker for the treatment of hypertension is experiencing dizziness when rising to a standing position. Which action will the nurse take?
Instruct the patient to monitor weight daily.
Inform the patient to discontinue the medication.
Advise the patient to increase dietary sodium.
Encourage the patient to sit down if feeling faint.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: This is not the action that the nurse should take. Instructing the patient to monitor weight daily is not relevant to the patient's dizziness. Weight monitoring is more useful for patients with fluid retention or heart failure, which are not caused by calcium channel blockers.
Choice B reason: This is not the action that the nurse should take. Informing the patient to discontinue the medication is not appropriate, as this can cause rebound hypertension and other complications. The patient should not stop taking the medication without consulting their health care provider.
Choice C reason: This is not the action that the nurse should take. Advising the patient to increase dietary sodium is not helpful, as this can worsen the hypertension and increase the risk of cardiovascular events. The patient should follow a low-sodium diet and avoid salt substitutes that contain potassium.
Choice D reason: This is the action that the nurse should take. Encouraging the patient to sit down if feeling faint is a simple and effective way to prevent falls and injuries. Dizziness is a common side effect of calcium channel blockers, especially when the patient changes position or stands up quickly. This is due to the orthostatic hypotension (a drop in blood pressure when standing up) caused by the vasodilation effect of the medication. However, this side effect is usually mild and transient, and can be prevented by rising slowly from a sitting or lying position, drinking plenty of fluids, and avoiding alcohol.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: This is not a symptom of right heart failure. Hypertension is a risk factor for developing heart failure, but it does not indicate the severity or location of the heart failure.
Choice B reason: This is not a symptom of right heart failure. Dyspnea upon exertion is a symptom of left heart failure, which occurs when the left ventricle fails to pump blood effectively to the lungs.
Choice C reason: This is a symptom of right heart failure. Significant edema to both lower legs and feet is a result of increased pressure in the systemic circulation, which occurs when the right ventricle fails to pump blood effectively to the rest of the body. This causes fluid to accumulate in the dependent areas, such as the lower extremities.
Choice D reason: This is not a symptom of right heart failure. Decreased urine output is a symptom of left heart failure, which occurs when the left ventricle fails to pump blood effectively to the aorta and the rest of the body. This causes reduced renal perfusion and oliguria.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Vasodilators are not the preferred agents for the initial treatment of heart failure. They are used as adjunctive therapy to reduce the afterload and preload on the heart. However, they do not address the fluid overload that is the main cause of heart failure symptoms.
Choice B reason: Diuretics are the preferred agents for the initial treatment of heart failure. They help to reduce the fluid overload and congestion in the lungs and peripheral tissues. They also lower the blood pressure and improve the cardiac output and renal function.
Choice C reason: Calcium channel blockers are not the preferred agents for the initial treatment of heart failure. They are contraindicated in most cases of heart failure because they can worsen the cardiac function and increase the mortality. They can also cause peripheral edema and hypotension.
Choice D reason: Direct renin inhibitors are not the preferred agents for the initial treatment of heart failure. They are a newer class of drugs that block the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), which is involved in the pathophysiology of heart failure. However, they have not shown any significant benefit over the existing RAAS inhibitors, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). They can also cause hyperkalemia and renal impairment.
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