When taking a medication history on a patient why should the nurse ask about the use of alternative therapies?
- A. Patients who use new drugs are usually not compliant with medical regimens.
- B. Many drug-alternative therapy interactions can cause serious problems and should be avoided.
- C. Natural products may be more effective and the drug may not be needed.
- D. The cost of the drug and the alternative therapy may be too great for the patient to handle.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Alternative therapies can interact with prescribed drugs, potentially causing adverse effects, making this a critical assessment point.
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The client with small cell lung cancer is being treated with etoposide (VePesid). The nurse who is assisting in caring for the client during its administration understands that which side effect is specifically associated with this medication?
- A. Alopecia
- B. Chest pain
- C. Pulmonary fibrosis
- D. Orthostatic hypotension
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A side effect specific to etoposide is orthostatic hypotension. The client's blood pressure is monitored during the infusion. Hair loss occurs with nearly all the antineoplastic medications. Chest pain and pulmonary fibrosis are unrelated to this medication.
A patient arrives at the health care clinic and informs the nurse that he has consumed several aspirin tablets for a severe headache over the past 24 hours. The nurse would be alert for which of the following as a harmful effect?
- A. Gastrointestinal bleeding
- B. Breathing difficulties
- C. Visual disturbances
- D. Loss of balance
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Aspirin is potentially harmful and can cause gastrointestinal bleeding and salicylism. Breathing difficulties, visual disturbances, and loss of balance could be due to an illness or the effects of some other drug.
Prior to prescribing metformin, the provider should:
- A. Draw a serum creatinine to assess renal function
- B. Try the patient on insulin
- C. Tell the patient to increase iodine intake
- D. Have the patient stop taking any sulfonylurea to avoid dangerous drug interactions
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Metformin requires renal function assessment (creatinine) due to lactic acidosis risk; insulin isn't a prerequisite.
Which of the following is a representative of sulfonylurea?
- A. Metformin
- B. Sitagliptine
- C. Acarbose
- D. Chlorpropamide
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Chlorpropamide is a sulfonylurea that stimulates insulin release from pancreatic beta cells.
A nurse is monitoring a client who is receiving spironolactone. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
- A. Serum Sodium 144 mEq/L
- B. Urine output 120 mL in 4 hr
- C. Serum Potassium 5.2 mEq/L
- D. Blood Pressure 140/90 mm Hg
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (5.2 mEq/L, C) is a serious side effect of spironolactone, a potassium-sparing diuretic.