Nokea
A patient with rheumatoid arthritis is prescribed methotrexate. What should the nurse include in the patient teaching?
- A. Take folic acid supplements as prescribed.
- B. Avoid alcohol completely.
- C. Expect to see immediate results.
- D. Limit fluid intake to 1 liter per day.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Take folic acid supplements as prescribed. Methotrexate can lead to folic acid deficiency, so supplementing with folic acid helps prevent side effects. It is important for the nurse to educate the patient on the importance of taking folic acid to maintain overall health.
Choice B is incorrect. While it is generally recommended to limit alcohol consumption with methotrexate, avoiding it completely may not be necessary for all patients.
Choice C is incorrect. Methotrexate takes time to work, often several weeks to months, so immediate results should not be expected.
Choice D is incorrect. Limiting fluid intake to 1 liter per day is not a standard recommendation for patients taking methotrexate. Adequate hydration is important for overall health.
You may also like to solve these questions
A patient is admitted with a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. What symptom should the nurse expect to find during the assessment?
- A. Joint pain
- B. Muscle weakness
- C. Loss of sensation
- D. Severe headache
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Muscle weakness. Myasthenia gravis is characterized by muscle weakness due to an autoimmune attack on acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction. This leads to impaired muscle contraction and weakness, especially in the face, neck, and extremities. Joint pain (A) is not a typical symptom of myasthenia gravis. Loss of sensation (C) is more indicative of a sensory nerve disorder rather than a motor disorder like myasthenia gravis. Severe headache (D) is not a common symptom of myasthenia gravis; it is more likely to be associated with other conditions such as migraines or intracranial pathology.
In a patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving erythropoietin therapy, what laboratory result should the nurse monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of this therapy?
- A. Serum creatinine
- B. White blood cell count
- C. Hemoglobin level
- D. Serum potassium
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale: The correct answer is C, hemoglobin level. Erythropoietin therapy is used to stimulate red blood cell production in CKD patients with anemia. Monitoring hemoglobin levels helps assess the effectiveness of the therapy in improving anemia. If hemoglobin levels increase, it indicates the therapy is working.
Summary of incorrect choices:
A: Serum creatinine - This measures kidney function, not the effectiveness of erythropoietin therapy for anemia in CKD patients.
B: White blood cell count - Monitors immune function, not related to erythropoietin therapy for anemia.
D: Serum potassium - Important for monitoring electrolyte balance in CKD patients but not specific to assessing erythropoietin therapy effectiveness.
A patient with a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is receiving heparin therapy. Which laboratory test should the nurse monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of the heparin therapy?
- A. Prothrombin time (PT)
- B. Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
- C. Bleeding time
- D. Platelet count
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Partial thromboplastin time (PTT). PTT is used to monitor the effectiveness of heparin therapy because heparin primarily affects the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade, which is reflected in the PTT results. Monitoring PTT helps to ensure that the patient's blood is within the therapeutic range for anticoagulation.
A: Prothrombin time (PT) is used to monitor warfarin therapy, which affects the extrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade.
C: Bleeding time is not typically used to monitor heparin therapy effectiveness.
D: Platelet count is important to monitor for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, but it does not directly reflect the effectiveness of heparin therapy in preventing or treating DVT.
A patient with severe anemia is prescribed erythropoietin. What is the primary action of this medication?
- A. Stimulate white blood cell production
- B. Increase platelet count
- C. Promote red blood cell production
- D. Enhance clotting factor production
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Promote red blood cell production. Erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells, helping to treat anemia. It does not stimulate white blood cell production (A), increase platelet count (B), or enhance clotting factor production (D). White blood cells are involved in the immune response, platelets are responsible for clotting, and clotting factors are proteins involved in the blood clotting process. Therefore, the primary action of erythropoietin is to specifically target red blood cell production to address anemia.
During an assessment, a healthcare professional suspects a client has cholecystitis. What is a common symptom of this condition?
- A. Right upper quadrant pain
- B. Left lower quadrant pain
- C. Generalized abdominal pain
- D. Epigastric pain
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Right upper quadrant pain. Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder, typically caused by gallstones. The gallbladder is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, so pain in this area is a common symptom. The pain may also radiate to the back or right shoulder. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not typically align with the specific location of the gallbladder or the characteristic pain associated with cholecystitis.