The nurse is providing medication education for a client with osteoarthritis. What teaching should the nurse include in the education?

Choice A reason: The main side effect of acetaminophen is gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is not a teaching that the nurse should include in the education, because it is incorrect and misleading. Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer that is commonly used for osteoarthritis, but it does not have antiinflammatory properties. Acetaminophen does not cause GI bleeding, unlike NSAIDs, which can irritate the stomach lining and increase the risk of ulcers and bleeding. The main side effect of acetaminophen is liver damage, which can occur if the dose is exceeded or if the drug is combined with alcohol or other hepatotoxic substances.

Choice B reason: You should not take more than 4000 mg of acetaminophen a day is a teaching that the nurse should include in the education, because it is correct and important. Acetaminophen has a maximum daily dose of 4000 mg for adults, which should not be exceeded to avoid the risk of liver damage or overdose. Acetaminophen can be found in many overthecounter and prescription products, such as cold and flu remedies, cough syrups, or combination analgesics. Therefore, the client should read the labels carefully and keep track of the total amount of acetaminophen they are taking from all sources.

Choice C reason: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are very safe and have no side effects is not a teaching that the nurse should include in the education, because it is incorrect and misleading. NSAIDs are a group of drugs that have antiinflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects, and that are commonly used for osteoarthritis. However, NSAIDs are not very safe and have many side effects, such as GI bleeding, ulcers, kidney damage, cardiovascular events, allergic reactions, or interactions with other drugs. Therefore, the client should use NSAIDs with caution and under the supervision of the provider.

Choice D reason: The most common adverse effect of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are liver failure and tinnitus is not a teaching that the nurse should include in the education, because it is incorrect and misleading. Liver failure and tinnitus are not the most common adverse effects of NSAIDs, but rather rare and serious ones. Liver failure can occur in some cases of NSAID overdose or hypersensitivity, while tinnitus can occur in some cases of NSAID toxicity or high doses. The most common adverse effects of NSAIDs are GI bleeding, ulcers, or irritation, which can affect up to 15% of the users.