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 ["0.2"]
Explanation
- Step 1: Identify the required dose in milligrams (mg). The nurse is scheduled to administer 2 mg of morphine sulfate.
- Step 2: Identify the concentration of the available solution. The available solution contains 10 mg of morphine sulfate per 1 mL.
- Step 3: Calculate the volume of solution needed to deliver the required dose. We can set up a proportion to solve for this:
- 10 mg is to 1 mL as 2 mg is to X mL.
- In other words, 10 mg : 1 mL = 2 mg : X mL.
- Step 4: Solve for X using cross-multiplication and division:
- Cross-multiplication gives us: 10 mg × X mL = 2 mg × 1 mL.
- Simplifying this gives us: 10X = 2.
- Dividing both sides by 10 gives us: X = 2 ÷ 10.
- Calculating the division gives us: X = 0.2.
So, the nurse should administer 0.2 mL of the morphine sulfate solution per dose.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Disequilibrium syndrome is characterized by headache, nausea, and agitation, which can occur during or after hemodialysis, especially in the first few sessions as the body adjusts to the treatment².
Choice B reason: Septicemia would typically present with fever, chills, and hypotension, not specifically headache and agitation².
Choice C reason: Air embolism is a rare complication that would present with sudden respiratory distress, chest pain, and possibly hypotension, not just headache and agitation².
Choice D reason: Peritonitis is associated with abdominal pain and tenderness, fever, and possibly altered bowel movements, not the symptoms described².
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