Nokea
The spouse of a man being treated with sertraline (Zoloft) calls to report that he had a grand mal seizure. Prior to the seizure, he had seemed confused and his forehead felt hot. The man does not have a seizure-disorder history. Which action should the nurse direct the spouse to take?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Step 1: The man had a grand mal seizure, confusion, and a hot forehead, which are signs of serotonin syndrome, a serious side effect of sertraline.
Step 2: The nurse should direct the spouse to hold all medications to prevent further serotonin syndrome symptoms.
Step 3: Calling 911 for immediate transportation to the hospital is crucial for prompt evaluation and treatment of the seizure and serotonin syndrome.
Step 4: This action ensures the man receives appropriate medical care to address the seizure and manage the potential serotonin syndrome.
Summary:
- Choice A is incorrect as monitoring the patient at home is not sufficient for a serious medical emergency like serotonin syndrome.
- Choice C is incorrect as simply holding tonight's sertraline and encouraging fluids does not address the immediate need for medical intervention.
- Choice D is incorrect as administering an antipyretic drug does not address the underlying cause of the seizure and confusion, which is serotonin syndrome.