Nokea
Furosemide is prescribed for a patient who is about to be discharged, and the nurse provides instructions to the patient about the medication. Which statement by the nurse is correct?
- A. Take this medication in the evening.
- B. Avoid foods high in potassium, such as bananas, oranges, fresh vegetables, and dates.
- C. If you experience weight gain, such as 5 pounds or more per week, be sure to tell your physician during your next routine visit.
- D. Be sure to change positions slowly and rise slowly after sitting or lying so as to prevent dizziness and possible fainting because of blood pressure changes.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension is a possible problem with diuretic therapy. Foods high in potassium should be eaten more often, and the drug needs to be taken in the morning so that the diuretic effects do not interfere with sleep. A weight gain of 5 pounds or more per week must be reported immediately.
You may also like to solve these questions
A patient is started on a diuretic for antihypertensive therapy. The nurse expects that a drug in which class is likely to be used initially?
- A. Loop diuretics
- B. Osmotic diuretics
- C. Thiazide diuretics
- D. Potassium-sparing diuretics
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Eighth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC-8) guidelines reaffirmed the role of thiazide diuretics as among the first-line drugs in the treatment of hypertension. The other drug classes are not considered first-line treatments.
The nurse is monitoring a patient who is taking a potassium-sparing diuretic. Which of the drugs or drug classes may have an interaction with this type of diuretic?
- A. Lithium
- B. Vancomycin
- C. Potassium supplements
- D. NSAIDs
- E. Antidiabetic drugs
- F. ACE Inhibitors
Correct Answer: A,C,D,F
Rationale: Taking lithium with potassium-sparing diuretics may cause lithium toxicity; taking ACE inhibitors or potassium supplements may lead to hyperkalemia. Taking NSAIDs with potassium-sparing diuretics may cause a decreased diuretic response. There are no interactions with vancomycin or antidiabetic drugs and potassium-sparing diuretics.
A 79-year-old patient is taking a diuretic for treatment of hypertension. This patient is very independent and wants to continue to live at home. The nurse will know that which teaching point is important for this patient?
- A. He should take the diuretic with his evening meal.
- B. He should skip the diuretic dose if he plans to leave the house.
- C. If he feels dizzy while on this medication, he needs to stop taking it and take potassium supplements instead.
- D. He needs to take extra precautions when standing up because of possible orthostatic hypotension and resulting injury from falls.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Caution must be exercised in the administration of diuretics to older adults because they are more sensitive to the therapeutic effects of these drugs and are more sensitive to the adverse effects of diuretics, such as dehydration, electrolyte loss, dizziness, and syncope. Taking the diuretic with the evening meal may disrupt sleep because of nocturia. Doses should never be skipped or stopped without checking with the prescriber.
A patient is being discharged to home on a single daily dose of a diuretic. The nurse instructs the patient to take the dose at which time so it will be least disruptive to the patient's daily routine?
- A. In the morning
- B. At noon
- C. With supper
- D. At bedtime
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: It is better to take the diuretic medication early in the morning to prevent urination during the night. Taking the diuretic at the other times may cause nighttime urination and disrupt sleep.
When assessing a patient who is receiving a loop diuretic, the nurse looks for the manifestations of potassium deficiency, which would include what symptoms?
- A. Dyspnea
- B. Constipation
- C. Tinnitus
- D. Muscle weakness
- E. Anorexia
- F. Lethargy
Correct Answer: D,E,F
Rationale: Symptoms of hypokalemia include anorexia, nausea, lethargy, muscle weakness, mental confusion, and hypotension. The other symptoms are not associated with hypokalemia.