The healthcare provider prescribes lactulose for a patient with hepatic encephalopathy. What will the nurse assess to determine the effectiveness of this medication?
Decreased ammonia levels
Relief of constipation
Decreased liver enzymes
Relief of abdominal pain
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason:Lactulose is used in hepatic encephalopathy primarily to lower blood ammonia levels. It works by converting ammonia in the intestines into ammonium, which is then excreted³. Therefore, a decrease in ammonia levels would indicate the effectiveness of the medication.
Choice B reason:While lactulose can relieve constipation due to its laxative effect, relief of constipation is not the primary indicator of its effectiveness in treating hepatic encephalopathy³.
Choice C reason:Decreased liver enzymes are not a direct measure of lactulose's effectiveness in hepatic encephalopathy. Liver enzymes are indicators of liver function, not ammonia levels³.
Choice D reason:Relief of abdominal pain is not a specific indicator of lactulose's effectiveness in hepatic encephalopathy. The medication's primary role is to reduce ammonia levels, not to alleviate pain³.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: A fractured femur, while a serious injury, does not inherently contraindicate the use of lipid emulsions. These patients may require additional nutrition if they are unable to eat adequately by mouth, and lipid emulsions can be part of their parenteral nutrition regimen if needed.
Choice B reason: Severe anorexia nervosa is a condition that can lead to malnutrition and may necessitate the use of parenteral nutrition, including lipid emulsions, to provide essential nutrients. However, care must be taken to avoid refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal condition that can occur when malnourished patients begin to refeed too quickly.
Choice C reason: Gastrointestinal obstruction is a condition that could be exacerbated by the administration of lipid emulsions. In cases of obstruction, enteral or parenteral nutrition may need to be carefully managed or avoided until the obstruction is resolved to prevent further complications. While lipid emulsions are a valuable component of parenteral nutrition, their use must be carefully considered in the context of the patient’s overall clinical condition. In the case of gastrointestinal obstruction, the nurse would be most concerned about the prescription of a lipid emulsion due to the potential for exacerbating the obstruction and complicating the patient’s condition.
Choice D reason: Chronic diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, but they do not directly contraindicate the use of lipid emulsions. However, the underlying cause of these symptoms should be addressed, and fluid and electrolyte balance should be carefully monitored.
Correct Answer is ["125"]
Explanation
- Step 1: Identify the required dose in micrograms (mcg). The client is scheduled to receive 125 mcg of digoxin.
- Step 2: Identify the concentration of the available tablet. The available tablet contains 0.25 mg of digoxin.
- Step 3: Convert the tablet concentration from mg to mcg. We know that 1 mg = 1000 mcg. So, 0.25 mg = 0.25 × 1000 mcg = 250 mcg.
- Step 4: Calculate the number of tablets needed to deliver the required dose. We can set up a proportion to solve for this:
- 250 mcg is to 1 tablet as 125 mcg is to X tablets.
- In other words, 250 mcg : 1 tablet = 125 mcg : X tablets.
- Step 5: Solve for X using cross-multiplication and division:
- Cross-multiplication gives us: 250 mcg × X tablets = 125 mcg × 1 tablet.
- Simplifying this gives us: 250X = 125.
- Dividing both sides by 250 gives us: X = 125 ÷ 250.
- Calculating the division gives us: X = 0.5.
So, the nurse should administer 0.5 tablets per dose to deliver the required dose of 125 mcg.
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