ATI Advanced Pharmacology Final Exam I Related

Review ATI Advanced Pharmacology Final Exam I related questions and content

The nurse is caring for a patient that has seizure disorder. The nurse notes that the patient has reddened gums that bleed when oral care is given. The nurse recognizes this finding as:

  • A. A sign of poor self-care.
  • B. A drug interaction with aspirin.
  • C. An adverse effect of the phenytoin.
  • D. A symptom of hepatotoxicity.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: An adverse effect of phenytoin. Phenytoin is an antiepileptic drug known to cause gingival hyperplasia, leading to reddened and bleeding gums. This is a common side effect of phenytoin due to its effect on gingival tissues. Poor self-care (choice A) may contribute to gingival issues, but in this case, the patient's gums are affected by a medication side effect. There is no indication in the question of aspirin use (choice B) or hepatotoxicity (choice D) causing the gum issues. Therefore, the most likely explanation is the adverse effect of phenytoin.