Nokea
A client is taking hydrocodone (Vicodin) for chronic back pain. The client has required an increase in the dose and asks whether this means he is addicted to Vicodin. The nurse should base her reply on the knowledge that:
- A. the client's body has developed tolerance, requiring more drug to produce the same effect.
- B. the client is preoccupied with getting the drug and is experiencing loss of control, indicating drug dependence.
- C. addiction is the term used to describe physical dependence with withdrawal symptoms and tolerance.
- D. the client has a dual diagnosis of substance abuse and chronic back pain
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Drug tolerance is characterized by the ability to ingest a larger dose without adverse effects and decreased sensitivity to the substance. In this scenario, the client needing an increased dose of hydrocodone to achieve the same pain relief indicates tolerance developing, not addiction. Choice B is incorrect as it describes drug dependence, where the individual is preoccupied with the drug and has a loss of control. Choice C is incorrect because addiction involves psychological behaviors related to substance use, not just physical dependence with withdrawal symptoms and tolerance. Choice D is incorrect as it refers to a dual diagnosis, which is the coexistence of substance abuse and psychiatric disorders, not the development of tolerance to a drug.
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While assessing a client who is dying for signs of impending death, what should the nurse observe for?
- A. Elevated blood pressure
- B. Cheyne-Stokes respiration
- C. Elevated pulse rate
- D. Decreased temperature
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When assessing a client for signs of impending death, the nurse should observe for Cheyne-Stokes respiration. This pattern involves rhythmic waxing and waning of respirations from very deep breathing to very shallow breathing with periods of temporary apnea. It is often associated with cardiac failure and can be a significant indicator of impending death. Elevated blood pressure and pulse rate are not typical signs of impending death; in fact, they may indicate other conditions. A decreased temperature is also not a common sign of impending death, as temperature changes can vary among individuals and may not always correlate with the dying process.
The client is receiving heparin for thrombophlebitis of the left lower extremity. Which of the following drugs reverses the effects of heparin?
- A. Cyanocobalamin
- B. Protamine sulfate
- C. Streptokinase
- D. Sodium warfarin
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is Protamine sulfate. Protamine sulfate is the antidote for heparin, as it reverses its effects. Cyanocobalamin is a form of Vitamin B12 and is not used to reverse heparin effects. Streptokinase is a thrombolytic agent that is used to dissolve blood clots, not to reverse heparin effects. Sodium warfarin is an anticoagulant, but it is not the antidote for heparin. Therefore, answers A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not reverse the effects of heparin.
Narrow therapeutic index medications:
- A. are drug formulations with limited pharmacokinetic variability.
- B. have limited value and require no monitoring of blood levels.
- C. have less than a twofold difference in minimum toxic levels and minimum effective concentration in the blood
- D. have limited potency and side effects.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The therapeutic index is the ratio between the median lethal dose and median effective dose of a drug, indicating the safety margin. Narrow therapeutic index medications have a small difference between minimum toxic levels and minimum effective concentration in the blood, making them high-risk drugs that require close monitoring to avoid toxicity. Choice A is incorrect because pharmacokinetics refer to drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination, not the therapeutic index. Choice B is incorrect because narrow therapeutic index drugs necessitate monitoring due to their narrow margin of safety. Choice D is incorrect because narrow therapeutic index drugs do not necessarily have limited potency but are characterized by a small window between efficacy and toxicity.
A client is given an opiate drug for pain relief following general anesthesia. The client becomes extremely somnolent with respiratory depression. The physician is likely to order the administration of:
- A. naloxone (Narcan)
- B. labetalol (Normodyne)
- C. neostigmine (Prostigmin)
- D. thiothixene (Navane)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is naloxone (Narcan). Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression and somnolence. In this scenario, the client's extreme somnolence and respiratory depression suggest an opioid overdose, making naloxone the appropriate choice to counteract these effects. Labetalol (Normodyne) is a nonselective beta-blocker used to treat hypertension, not opioid overdose. Neostigmine (Prostigmin) is a cholinesterase inhibitor used to reverse neuromuscular blockade, not opioid-induced respiratory depression. Thiothixene (Navane) is an antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and is not indicated for opioid overdose.
An adult who had been abused as a child is discussing the group therapy program. Which statement indicates that the client has gained insight?
- A. "I think I was a lonely child because I could not tell anyone about my abuse."?
- B. "I am now aware of how deep-seated my anger is. Before, I did not realize I was angry."?
- C. "The program has given me the courage to tell my mother how I felt about her role in my hurt."?
- D. "There are so many people just like me, who are just normal people that had bad things happen to them."?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer demonstrates insight gained by the client regarding their emotional state. Recognizing deep-seated anger that was previously unrecognized indicates progress in understanding their emotions and the impact of past abuse. Choice A reflects a sense of loneliness due to an inability to share about the abuse, which does not directly address emotional insight. Choice C shows progress in addressing relationships but does not specifically relate to emotional awareness. Choice D acknowledges shared experiences but does not reflect personal emotional growth or insight.