Adult Medical Surgical ATI Related

Review Adult Medical Surgical ATI related questions and content

A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is prescribed tiotropium (Spiriva). Which instruction should the nurse include in the client's teaching?

  • A. Use this medication only during acute exacerbations.
  • B. Rinse your mouth after using the inhaler.
  • C. Take this medication with food.
  • D. Increase your fluid intake to at least 3 liters per day.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Rinse your mouth after using the inhaler. This instruction is important because tiotropium is an inhaled medication that can cause dry mouth and increase the risk of oral thrush. Rinsing the mouth after each use helps reduce these side effects.

A: Using the medication only during acute exacerbations is incorrect because tiotropium is a maintenance medication for COPD to improve lung function and reduce symptoms.
C: Taking the medication with food is unnecessary as tiotropium can be taken with or without food.
D: Increasing fluid intake to at least 3 liters per day is not specifically related to tiotropium use and is not necessary for all COPD patients.