An adult client who is admitted to the mental health unit for treatment of bipolar disorder has a slightly slurred speech pattern and an unsteady gait. Which assessment finding is most important for the nurse to report to the health care provider?
Reference Range
Blood alcohol level [Reference Range: 0 to 10.9 mmol/L (0% to 0.05%)]
Lithium [Reference Range: 0.8 to 1.2 mEq/L or 0.8 to 1.2 mmol/L]
Blood alcohol level of 0.09% (90 mmol/L)
Six hours of sleep in the past three days.
Serum lithium level of 1.6 mEq/L (1.6 mmol/L)
Weight loss of 10 pounds (4.5 kg) in past month.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A: Blood alcohol level of 0.09% (90 mmol/L) is not the most important finding for the nurse to report, as this is within the reference range and does not indicate alcohol intoxication or withdrawal, which can affect the client's mental status and mood stability. This is a distractor choice.
Choice B: Six hours of sleep in the past three days is not the most important finding for the nurse to report, as this is a common symptom of bipolar disorder during manic episodes and does not require immediate intervention by the health care provider. This is another distractor choice.
Choice C: Serum lithium level of 1.6 mEq/L (1.6 mmol/L) is the most important finding for the nurse to report, as this indicates lithium toxicity, which can cause neurological and renal impairment and potentially fatal complications such as seizures, coma, and cardiac dysrhythmias. Therefore, this is the correct choice.
Choice D: Weight loss of 10 pounds (4.5 kg) in past month is not the most important finding for the nurse to report, as this may be related to decreased appetite or increased activity during manic episodes and does not pose an immediate threat to the client's health or safety. This is another distractor choice.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A: Advising the client to place one nitroglycerin tablet under his tongue as a precaution is a dangerous action for the nurse, as this can cause severe hypotension and cardiovascular collapse due to the interaction between tadalafil and nitroglycerin. This is a contraindicated choice.
Choice B: Telling the client to have someone bring him to an emergency department immediately is an unnecessary action for the nurse, as there is no evidence of any serious adverse reaction or complication from tadalafil. This is an overreaction choice.
Choice C: Instructing the client to increase his intake of oral fluids until the skin flushing is relieved is not an appropriate action for the nurse, as this does not address the cause of the flushing, which is vasodilation due to tadalafil. This is a distractor choice.
Choice D: Reassuring the client that skin flushing is a common side effect of the medication is an appropriate action for the nurse, as this can calm the client and educate him about the expected effects of tadalafil. Therefore, this is the correct choice.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A: Administering a half dose now is not a safe instruction for the nurse to provide, as this can result in overdosing or underdosing the infant, depending on how much of the medicine was absorbed or expelled. This is a contraindicated choice.
Choice B: Giving another dose is not a prudent instruction for the nurse to provide, as this can cause digoxin toxicity, which can be life-threatening for the infant. This is another contraindicated choice.
Choice C: Mixing the next dose with food is not a relevant instruction for the nurse to provide, as this does not address the current situation and can affect the absorption and effectiveness of digoxin. This is a distractor choice.
Choice D: Withholding this dose is a sensible instruction for the nurse to provide, as this can prevent adverse effects and allow the infant's serum digoxin level to be checked before giving another dose. Therefore, this is the correct choice.
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