Nokea
A patient with metastatic cancer has developed trigeminal neuralgia and is taking carbamazepine (Tegretol) for pain relief. What principle applies to the administration of this medication?
- A. Tegretol is not known to have serious adverse effects.
- B. The patient should be monitored for bone marrow depression.
- C. Side effects of the medication include renal dysfunction.
- D. The medication should be first taken in the maximum dosage form to be effective.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Carbamazepine can cause bone marrow depression, requiring monitoring. It has serious side effects like aplastic anemia, not renal dysfunction, and is started at a low dose, gradually increased.
You may also like to solve these questions
The nurse caring for a patient diagnosed with Guillain-Barr?© syndrome is planning care with regard to the clinical manifestations associated with this syndrome. The nurse's communication with the patient should reflect the possibility of what sign or symptom of the disease?
- A. Intermittent hearing loss
- B. Tinnitus
- C. Tongue enlargement
- D. Vocal paralysis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Guillain-Barr?© syndrome affects the vagus nerve (X), potentially causing vocal paralysis or dysphagia. Hearing loss, tinnitus, and tongue enlargement are not associated.
A patient with diabetes presents to the clinic and is diagnosed with a mononeuropathy. This patient's nursing care should involve which of the following?
- A. Protection of the affected limb from injury
- B. Passive and active ROM exercises for the affected limb
- C. Education about improvements to glycemic control
- D. Interventions to prevent contractures
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Mononeuropathy causes sensory loss, requiring protection of the affected limb from injury. ROM exercises, glycemic control education, and contracture prevention are not primary interventions.
The critical care nurse is caring for a 25-year-old man admitted to the ICU with a brain abscess. What is a priority nursing responsibility in the care of this patient?
- A. Maintaining the patient's functional independence
- B. Providing health education
- C. Monitoring neurologic status closely
- D. Promoting mobility
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Close neurologic monitoring is critical for brain abscess patients to detect changes like increased intracranial pressure. Independence, education, and mobility are secondary in acute care.
A patient presents at the clinic complaining of pain and weakness in her hands. On assessment, the nurse notes diminished reflexes in the upper extremities bilaterally and bilateral loss of sensation. The nurse knows that these findings are indicative of what?
- A. Guillain-Barr?© syndrome
- B. Myasthenia gravis
- C. Trigeminal neuralgia
- D. Peripheral nerve disorder
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Pain, weakness, diminished reflexes, and sensory loss in the extremities indicate a peripheral nerve disorder. Guillain-Barr?© involves ascending paralysis, myasthenia gravis affects voluntary muscles, and trigeminal neuralgia causes facial pain.
The critical care nurse is admitting a patient in myasthenic crisis to the ICU. The nurse should prioritize what nursing action in the immediate care of this patient?
- A. Suctioning secretions
- B. Facilitating ABG analysis
- C. Providing ventilatory assistance
- D. Administering tube feedings
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Myasthenic crisis causes severe muscle weakness, risking respiratory failure, so ventilatory assistance is the priority. Suctioning, ABGs, and feeding are secondary.