The practical nurse (PN) is assisting with the plan of care for a client who is experiencing torticollis from a traumatic injury sustained during a football game. The client received a prescription for tramadol. Which intervention should the PN include in the client's plan of care?
Encourage the client to resume normal activities after medication administration.
Observe the client for involuntary movements of the lips and tongue every day.
Perform a daily whisper test of the client's hearing to detect symptoms of ototoxicity.
Implement ongoing assessments for signs of shallow or slow breathing.
The Correct Answer is D
Tramadol is an opioid analgesic that can depress the respiratory system and potentially cause respiratory depression. Therefore, it is crucial for the PN to closely monitor the client's breathing pattern, depth, and rate. Assessing for signs of shallow or slow breathing is important to detect any potential respiratory depression and take appropriate action promptly.
The other options listed are not directly related to the administration of tramadol:
A. Encouraging the client to resume normal activities after medication administration is not an appropriate intervention for a client experiencing torticollis. The focus should be on pain management, rest, and implementing measures to relieve the torticollis.
B. Observing the client for involuntary movements of the lips and tongue every day is not specifically related to tramadol. This intervention is more relevant to monitoring for tardive dyskinesia, a side effect associated with certain antipsychotic medications.
C. Performing a daily whisper test of the client's hearing to detect symptoms of ototoxicity is not necessary with tramadol. Ototoxicity refers to damage to the inner ear, often caused by specific medications, but tramadol is not known to cause ototoxic effects.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
This is the priority action by the practical nurse (PN) because it can help identify and prevent a potential adverse reaction to the medication. A client who is reaching saturation with medication means that the client has reached the maximum level of medication in the blood that can produce the desired therapeutic effect. However, this also means that the client is at a higher risk of developing toxicity or side effects from the medication.
The PN should report the findings of muscle soreness, fatigue, and warm skin to the charge nurse, as these may indicate signs of inflammation, infection, or allergic reaction to the medication. The PN should also monitor the client's vital signs, oxygen saturation, and laboratory values, and document the findings. The charge nurse should notify the health care provider and adjust the medication dosage or regimen as ordered.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
When admitting a client with complications of left-sided heart failure, the practical nurse (PN) should prioritize assessing the client's bilateral lung sounds. Left-sided heart failure can result in the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, leading to pulmonary congestion and impaired gas exchange. By auscultating the client's lung sounds, the PN can assess for the presence of crackles, wheezes, or diminished breath sounds, which are indicative of pulmonary congestion and fluid accumulation. This assessment helps to identify the severity of the client's condition and guides further interventions and treatment.
While assessing heart sounds (option a) is important in evaluating cardiac function, assessing lung sounds takes priority as pulmonary congestion is a common manifestation of left-sided heart failure. Chest pain (option b) is a significant symptom that should be assessed promptly, but in this scenario, the focus is on assessing for signs of pulmonary congestion and impaired gas exchange. Assessing the client's mood and affect (option d) is important for a comprehensive assessment, but it is not the priority when the client is admitted with complications of left-sided heart failure.
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