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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.
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What is the most appropriate nursing intervention to help alleviate severe abdominal pain in a patient with acute pancreatitis?
- A. Encourage oral intake of clear fluids.
- B. Place the patient in a supine position.
- C. Administer prescribed opioid analgesics.
- D. Apply a heating pad to the abdomen.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C, administering prescribed opioid analgesics. This intervention is appropriate for severe abdominal pain in acute pancreatitis as opioids are effective in managing pain. Encouraging oral intake (A) can worsen symptoms, a supine position (B) can exacerbate pain, and a heating pad (D) can aggravate inflammation. Administering opioid analgesics provides direct pain relief and is the most effective intervention for alleviating severe abdominal pain in acute pancreatitis.
A client with a new diagnosis of myasthenia gravis is prescribed pyridostigmine (Mestinon). Which instruction should the nurse include in the client's teaching?
- A. Take the medication with food to prevent gastrointestinal upset.
- B. Take the medication 30 minutes before meals.
- C. Avoid dairy products while taking this medication.
- D. Take the medication at bedtime.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Take the medication 30 minutes before meals. Pyridostigmine is a cholinesterase inhibitor used to treat myasthenia gravis by improving muscle strength. Taking it before meals helps optimize its effects when muscle strength is needed the most during eating. Taking it with food (A) may delay absorption. Avoiding dairy products (C) is not necessary with pyridostigmine. Taking the medication at bedtime (D) may not be optimal for addressing muscle weakness during meal times.
A patient with a diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease is prescribed omeprazole. When should the patient take this medication for optimal effectiveness?
- A. With meals
- B. At bedtime
- C. Before meals
- D. After meals
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Before meals. Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that works by reducing stomach acid production. Taking it before meals allows the medication to be most effective in inhibiting the proton pumps before they are stimulated by food intake. This timing optimizes the drug's ability to reduce acid secretion during the digestion process.
Choice A (With meals) is incorrect because taking omeprazole with meals may reduce its effectiveness as it will not have enough time to inhibit acid production before food intake. Choice B (At bedtime) is also incorrect as omeprazole works best when taken before meals to prevent acid production. Choice D (After meals) is incorrect because waiting until after meals to take omeprazole means that acid production has already been stimulated by the food consumed, reducing the drug's effectiveness in inhibiting acid secretion.
A patient with heart failure is prescribed digoxin. What is the most important instruction the nurse should provide?
- A. Take an extra dose if you miss one.
- B. Avoid high-potassium foods.
- C. Report any visual disturbances.
- D. Stop taking the medication if your pulse is normal.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Report any visual disturbances. This is important because digoxin can cause visual disturbances, such as blurred or yellow-tinted vision, which may indicate toxicity. By reporting these symptoms promptly, the nurse can prevent serious complications.
A: Taking an extra dose if a dose is missed can lead to overdose and toxicity.
B: Avoiding high-potassium foods is important for patients taking potassium-sparing diuretics, not digoxin.
D: Stopping the medication if the pulse is normal is incorrect as it should be taken as prescribed for heart failure management.
In a client with liver cirrhosis experiencing confusion and disorientation, what condition is most likely causing these symptoms?
- A. Hepatic encephalopathy
- B. Hypoglycemia
- C. Electrolyte imbalance
- D. Dehydration
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Hepatic encephalopathy. In liver cirrhosis, the liver's ability to detoxify ammonia is impaired, leading to elevated ammonia levels in the blood. This excess ammonia crosses the blood-brain barrier, causing neurological symptoms like confusion and disorientation. Hypoglycemia (B), electrolyte imbalance (C), and dehydration (D) can also contribute to altered mental status, but in a cirrhotic patient, hepatic encephalopathy is the most likely cause due to impaired ammonia metabolism.