Nokea
A patient with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. Which laboratory test should the nurse monitor to assess the effectiveness of the medication?
- A. Complete blood count (CBC)
- B. Prothrombin time (PT)/INR
- C. Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
- D. Serum potassium level
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Prothrombin time (PT)/INR. This is because warfarin is a medication that affects the clotting ability of the blood by inhibiting vitamin K-dependent clotting factors. PT/INR is the specific laboratory test used to monitor the effectiveness of warfarin therapy. PT measures how long it takes for blood to clot, while INR standardizes the PT results. Monitoring PT/INR helps to ensure that the patient is within the target therapeutic range for anticoagulation.
Incorrect choices:
A: Complete blood count (CBC) - CBC does not directly assess the effectiveness of warfarin therapy.
C: Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) - PTT is used to monitor the effectiveness of heparin therapy, not warfarin.
D: Serum potassium level - Monitoring serum potassium level is not directly related to assessing the effectiveness of warfarin therapy.
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A patient with chronic pain is prescribed gabapentin. What is the primary purpose of this medication?
- A. Relieve neuropathic pain
- B. Reduce inflammation
- C. Enhance opioid analgesia
- D. Suppress cough
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Relieve neuropathic pain. Gabapentin is commonly used to treat neuropathic pain by stabilizing electrical activity in the brain and nervous system. It is effective in conditions such as diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia. Choice B is incorrect because gabapentin does not have anti-inflammatory properties. Choice C is incorrect as gabapentin does not enhance opioid analgesia, but it can be used in conjunction with opioids for pain management. Choice D is incorrect as gabapentin is not indicated for cough suppression.
Aspirin is prescribed for a 9-year-old child with rheumatic fever to control the inflammatory process, promote comfort, and reduce fever. What intervention is most important for the nurse to implement?
- A. Instruct the parents to hold the aspirin until the child has first had a tepid sponge bath.
- B. Administer the aspirin with at least two ounces of water or juice.
- C. Notify the healthcare provider if the child complains of ringing in the ears.
- D. Advise the parents to question the child about seeing yellow halos around objects.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Notify the healthcare provider if the child complains of ringing in the ears. This is important because ringing in the ears can be a sign of salicylate toxicity, a potential side effect of aspirin use in children with rheumatic fever. It is crucial to monitor for this symptom to prevent serious complications.
A: Instructing the parents to hold the aspirin until the child has a tepid sponge bath is not the most important intervention. Managing salicylate toxicity takes precedence over comfort measures.
B: Administering the aspirin with at least two ounces of water or juice is a general guideline for medication administration but not the most critical intervention in this scenario.
D: Advising the parents to question the child about seeing yellow halos around objects is not directly related to the potential side effects of aspirin in this case. Monitoring for salicylate toxicity through symptoms like ringing in the ears is more crucial.
What should be monitored to evaluate the effectiveness of enoxaparin in a patient with deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
- A. Prothrombin time (PT)
- B. Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
- C. International normalized ratio (INR)
- D. Platelet count
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale:
1. Enoxaparin is a low molecular weight heparin that primarily affects the intrinsic pathway of coagulation.
2. INR is used to monitor the effectiveness of anticoagulants affecting the intrinsic pathway.
3. Monitoring INR helps ensure the patient is within the therapeutic range to prevent clotting without excessive bleeding.
4. PT and PTT primarily evaluate the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways, respectively, not specific to enoxaparin.
5. Platelet count is not directly related to monitoring the effectiveness of enoxaparin in treating DVT.
A patient with rheumatoid arthritis is taking prednisone. What is an important side effect for the nurse to monitor?
- A. Hyperglycemia
- B. Bradycardia
- C. Hypotension
- D. Hyperkalemia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Hyperglycemia. Prednisone is a corticosteroid that can cause an increase in blood glucose levels by promoting gluconeogenesis and decreasing insulin sensitivity. Monitoring for hyperglycemia is crucial as it can lead to serious complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis. Bradycardia (B) and hypotension (C) are not typical side effects of prednisone, as it tends to cause fluid retention and hypertension. Hyperkalemia (D) is also unlikely as prednisone can actually cause hypokalemia due to increased renal potassium excretion.
The nurse is administering sevelamer (RenaGel) during lunch to a client with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The client asks the nurse to bring the medication later. The nurse should describe which action of RenaGel as an explanation for taking it with meals?
- A. Prevents indigestion associated with the ingestion of spicy foods.
- B. Binds with phosphorus in foods and prevents absorption.
- C. Promotes stomach emptying and prevents gastric reflux.
- D. Buffers hydrochloric acid and prevents gastric erosion.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Sevelamer (RenaGel) is a phosphate binder used in ESRD to bind with phosphorus in foods, preventing its absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. This is important as ESRD patients often have high levels of phosphorus in their blood, which can lead to complications like cardiovascular disease. Taking RenaGel with meals ensures that it binds with phosphorus in the food, reducing its absorption.
Choice A is incorrect as RenaGel does not prevent indigestion associated with spicy foods. Choice C is incorrect as RenaGel does not promote stomach emptying or prevent gastric reflux. Choice D is incorrect as RenaGel does not buffer hydrochloric acid or prevent gastric erosion.