Before administering the evening dose of carbamazepine, the nurse notes that the patient’s morning carbamazepine level was 84 mcg/mL. What action should the nurse take?

Notify the healthcare provider of the carbamazepine level.

Administer the carbamazepine as prescribed.

Withhold this dose of the carbamazepine.

Assess the patient for side effects of carbamazepine.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

The correct answer is A:

Choice A reason: Notifying the healthcare provider is crucial because the patient’s carbamazepine level is significantly above the therapeutic range, which is 4-12 mcg/mL. A level of 84 mcg/mL indicates a high risk of toxicity, and the healthcare provider must be informed to take appropriate action, which may include adjusting the dose or discontinuing the medication.

Choice B reason: Administering the carbamazepine as prescribed would not be safe without addressing the elevated drug level. Continuing to administer the medication could increase the risk of severe side effects and toxicity due to the already high serum level.

Choice C reason: Withholding the dose may be a necessary immediate action, but it does not address the need for medical intervention to manage the patient’s elevated drug level. Therefore, while withholding the dose might be part of the response, it should follow notifying the healthcare provider.

Choice D reason: Assessing the patient for side effects is important, but it is not the most immediate action required. The priority is to notify the healthcare provider because of the potential for serious toxicity given the high carbamazepine level.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A rationale

Tetracycline should not be consumed with milk or antacids as these can bind to the medication and reduce its absorption. Therefore, this instruction would not be appropriate.

Choice B rationale

Tetracycline can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, increasing the risk of sunburn. Therefore, patients should be advised to protect their skin from sunlight while on this medication.

Choice C rationale

While orange juice is often recommended to enhance the absorption of certain medications, it is not specifically recommended for tetracycline.

Choice D rationale

While regular monitoring of drug levels can be important for some medications, it is not typically required for tetracycline.

A. Excessive bruising. B. Peripheral edema. C. Muscle tenderness. D. Nausea and vomiting.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A rationale

Excessive bruising is not a typical side effect of atorvastatin, and it is not linked to increased CK levels. Excessive bruising can be caused by bleeding disorders, anticoagulant therapy, or trauma.

Choice B rationale

Peripheral edema is not a common side effect of atorvastatin, and it is not related to increased CK levels. CK is an enzyme that is released when muscle tissue is damaged. Peripheral edema is more likely to be caused by heart failure, kidney disease, or venous insufficiency.

Choice C rationale

Muscle tenderness is a sign of myopathy, which is a rare but serious adverse effect of atorvastatin. Myopathy is a condition where muscle fibers are damaged and inflamed, leading to muscle weakness and pain. Increased CK levels indicate muscle injury and can be a marker of myopathy. The nurse should monitor the client for muscle symptoms and report them to the prescriber.

Choice D rationale

Nausea and vomiting are common gastrointestinal side effects of atorvastatin, but they are not associated with increased CK levels. Nausea and vomiting can be managed by taking the medication with food or reducing the dose.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

Before administering the evening dose of carbamazepine, the nurse notes that the patient’s morning carbamazepine level was 84 mcg/mL. What action should the nurse take?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

An adult patient at an outpatient clinic has been prescribed the antibiotic tetracycline HCl. What instructions should the nurse include in the patient’s teaching plan?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A client taking atorvastatin has an increased serum creatine phosphokinase (CK) level. What should the nurse assess the client for?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The nurse is preparing to administer the anti-ulcer gastrointestinal agent sucralfate to a patient with peptic ulcer disease.What should be included in this patient’s care plan?

A client has a new prescription for zolpidem, a hypnotic.The client tells the home health nurse that he plans to take a dose of the medication during the day because he is exhausted and needs to take a short afternoon nap prior to an evening activity in his home.Which action should the nurse take?

Which nursing action has the highest priority when administering a dose of codeine with acetaminophen to a client?

A patient has received a new prescription for levothyroxine.Which statement made by the patient indicates that the education was effective?

A client has been prescribed ciprofloxacin 400 mg intravenously (IV) every 12 hours to be infused over an hour. The IV bag contains ciprofloxacin 400 mg in dextrose 5% in water (D5W) 200 mL. How many mL/hour should the nurse program the infusion pump to deliver? (Enter numerical value only.)

A patient with chemotherapy-induced nausea has been prescribed metoclopramide. What adverse effect should the nurse report?

A client in the surgical recovery area asks the nurse to bring the largest possible dose of pain medication available. Which action should the nurse implement first?