A client with myasthenia gravis who is prescribed pyridostigmine comes to the emergency department complaining of abdominal cramping, excessive diarrhea, and severe muscle weakness. The nurse would suspect which of the following?
- A. Underdosage of the drug
- B. Tolerance to the drug
- C. Cholinergic crisis
- D. Underlying infection
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cholinergic crisis (cholinergic drug toxicity) symptoms include severe abdominal cramping; diarrhea; excessive salivation; muscle weakness, rigidity, and spasms; and clenching of the jaw. Signs of drug underdosage are signs of the disease itself, namely, rapid fatigability of the muscles, drooping of the eyelids, and difficulty breathing. Tolerance would be indicated by a reduction in the adverse reactions to the drug that the client was experiencing. There is no information to suggest that the client has an underlying infection.
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A nurse should notify the physician immediately if a client taking a cholinergic drug develops which of the following?
- A. Hypoglycemia
- B. Excessive salivation
- C. Severe abdominal cramping
- D. Muscle rigidity
- E. Muscle spasms
Correct Answer: B,C,D,E
Rationale: A client receiving a cholinergic drug is at risk for a cholinergic crisis. The signs of cholinergic crisis include severe abdominal cramping; diarrhea; excessive salivation; muscle weakness, rigidity and spasms; and clenching of the jaw. Any of these symptoms should be reported to the physician immediately.
The nurse is developing a teaching plan for a client who is receiving outpatient therapy with a cholinergic drug. Which of the following would be appropriate for the nurse to include?
- A. Instructions to avoid fiber-rich food during therapy
- B. Importance of adopting a self-monitoring blood pressure program
- C. Review of the purpose of the drug therapy with the client and family
- D. Evaluation of the client's previous history of disorders
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse should review the purpose of the drug therapy with the client and family when developing a teaching plan for a client receiving outpatient therapy with a cholinergic drug. Instructing the client to avoid fiber-rich food during therapy suggesting the client adapt a self-monitoring blood pressure program, and evaluating the client's previous history of disorders would be inappropriate to include in the teaching plan.
After teaching a group of nursing students about the parasympathetic nervous system, the instructor determines that the teaching was successful when the students identify which of the following as an action?
- A. Decreased salivary gland production
- B. Vasodilation
- C. Increased peristalsis
- D. Bronchodilation
- E. Pupillary constriction
Correct Answer: B,C,E
Rationale: Stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system results in the opposite reactions to those triggered by the adrenergic system: blood vessels dilate, sending blood to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract; secretions and peristalsis are activated and salivary glands increase production; the heart slows and pulmonary bronchioles constrict; the smooth muscle of the bladder contracts; and the pupils of the eyes constrict.
When conducting client teaching with a client and his family about the prescribed cholinergic therapy for myasthenia gravis, which of the following would be most important to include?
- A. How to adjust dosage
- B. Indications of drug underdosage
- C. The need to monitor blood glucose levels
- D. How to keep a record of response to therapy
- E. The need to wear medical identification
Correct Answer: A,B,D,E
Rationale: Client and family teaching should include signs and symptoms associated with underand overdosage, instructions on how to adjust the dosage up or down, how to keep a record of the response to therapy, and the importance of wearing medical identification. There is no need for the client and family to monitor blood glucose levels.
The nurse administers a prescribed oral dose of bethanechol to a client with urinary retention at 9:30 a.m. The nurse would notify the primary health care provider if the client has not voided by which time?
- A. 9:45 a.m.
- B. 10 a.m.
- C. 10:30 a.m.
- D. 11 a.m.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: When bethanechol is administered orally, the client should void within 30 to 90 minutes. Therefore, if the client has not yet voided by 11 a.m., the nurse should notify the primary health care provider.
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