The nurse is continuing to care for the client.
The nurse is providing teaching about lithium to the client and the client's adult child.
Select the 3 statements the nurse should include.
"Blurred vision is an expected adverse effect of this medication,"
"This medication can cause weight gain."
"This medication can cause nausea and drowsiness."
"It will take at least a week before this medication reaches a therapeutic level."
"You will be placed on a low-sodium diet while taking this medication."
Correct Answer : B,C,D
A. "Blurred vision is an expected adverse effect of this medication." Blurred vision is not a common or expected adverse effect of lithium. If this occurs, it may indicate toxicity or another underlying issue and should be reported. It is not part of routine education for expected side effects.
B. "This medication can cause weight gain." This is true. Weight gain is a known long-term adverse effect of lithium therapy and should be discussed with the client and family as part of monitoring and lifestyle considerations during treatment.
C. "This medication can cause nausea and drowsiness." These are common initial side effects when starting lithium and usually subside over time. Clients should be aware of these effects so they can differentiate between expected reactions and signs of toxicity.
D. "It will take at least a week before this medication reaches a therapeutic level." Correct. Lithium takes 7–14 days to reach therapeutic plasma levels, so clients may not experience symptom relief immediately. During this period, supportive care and safety monitoring are essential.
E. "You will be placed on a low-sodium diet while taking this medication." This is incorrect. Lithium has a narrow therapeutic index, and sodium levels affect lithium levels. A low-sodium diet can increase the risk of lithium toxicity, so clients should maintain a consistent sodium intake, not reduce it.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. "You should take a second dose if there is no relief within fifteen minutes after the initial dose." The second dose of sumatriptan should not be taken sooner than 2 hours after the first dose if there is no relief or if the migraine returns. Taking it too soon increases the risk of adverse effects.
B. "You may experience low blood pressure while taking this medication." Sumatriptan more commonly causes hypertension, not hypotension. It can cause vasoconstriction, which may elevate blood pressure and poses risks, especially in clients with cardiovascular disease.
C. "You should have complete relief in six hours after taking this medication." Relief from sumatriptan is often experienced within 1–2 hours after administration. While not all clients achieve complete relief, the medication acts quickly, and six hours is not the expected timeframe.
D. “You may experience muscle cramps as a potential adverse effect of the medication." Muscle cramps or tightness in the chest, neck, or limbs can occur due to vasoconstriction caused by sumatriptan. This is a known side effect and should be reported if severe or persistent.
Correct Answer is {"A":{"answers":"A,B"},"B":{"answers":"C"},"C":{"answers":"B"},"D":{"answers":"A"},"E":{"answers":"A,B"},"F":{"answers":"A,B"}}
Explanation
- Fever: Fever is a nonspecific but common symptom found in all three conditions—epiglottitis, RSV, and streptococcal pharyngitis. However, it is more severe and abrupt in epiglottitis and low to moderate in RSV and strep throat. In this case, the toddler has had a persistent fever over 38°C, consistent with both RSV and strep.
- Exudate on pharynx: Pharyngeal exudate is a hallmark sign of acute streptococcal pharyngitis, resulting from the inflammatory response to GABHS. It is not typical in RSV or epiglottitis, where erythema and swelling may occur but without purulent exudate.
- Wheezing upon auscultation: Wheezing is a classic sign of RSV, a lower respiratory viral infection leading to bronchiolitis and airway obstruction. It is not a feature of epiglottitis or strep throat, which involve the upper airway and oropharynx, respectively.
- Drooling: Drooling is strongly associated with epiglottitis, due to inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis which makes it painful and difficult to swallow. It is not typical in RSV or strep pharyngitis unless there is severe oral involvement or dehydration.
- Hypoxia: Hypoxia may occur in both epiglottitis and RSV due to airway obstruction or inflammation compromising oxygenation. In epiglottitis, it results from upper airway narrowing; in RSV, from lower airway inflammation and mucus plugging. It is not common in uncomplicated streptococcal pharyngitis.
- Tachypnea: Tachypnea is a sign of respiratory distress and is often present in both epiglottitis and RSV, as the body attempts to compensate for impaired gas exchange. It is not a primary feature of strep pharyngitis unless accompanied by systemic infection or high fever.
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