Nokea
Which of the following information should the nurse include when teaching a patient about use of somatropin?
- A. The medication will improve vaginal dryness.
- B. Inject the medication subcutaneously every day.
- C. Blood glucose levels will decrease when taking the medication.
- D. Stop taking the medication if swelling of the hands or feet occurs.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Somatropin is injected subcutaneously on a daily basis, preferably in the evening. The patient will need to continue on somatropin for life. If swelling or other adverse effects occur, the health care provider should be notified. Growth hormone will increase blood glucose levels.
You may also like to solve these questions
The nurse is caring for a patient with hyperthyroidism who is being treated with radioactive iodine (RAI) at the clinic. Which of the following information should the nurse provide to the patient prior to discharge?
- A. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism should be relieved in about a week.
- B. Hypothyroidism may occur as the RAI therapy takes effect.
- C. Discontinue the antithyroid medications taken before the radioactive therapy.
- D. Teach radioactive precautions to use with urine, stool, and other body secretions.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: There is a high incidence of postradiation hypothyroidism after RAI, and the patient should be monitored for symptoms of hypothyroidism. RAI has a delayed response, with the maximum effect not seen for 2-3 months, and the patient will continue to take antithyroid medications during this time. The therapeutic dose of radioactive iodine is low enough that no radiation safety precautions are needed.
The nurse is assessing a patient who has just arrived in the postanesthesia recovery unit (PACU) after a thyroidectomy and obtains these data. Which of the following information is most important to communicate to the surgeon?
- A. The patient is sleepy and hard to arouse.
- B. The patient has increasing swelling of the neck.
- C. The patient is complaining of 7/10 incisional pain.
- D. The patient's cardiac monitor shows a heart rate of 112.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The neck swelling may lead to respiratory difficulty, and rapid intervention is needed to prevent airway obstruction. The incisional pain should be treated but is not unusual after surgery. A heart rate of 112 is not unusual in a patient who has been hyperthyroid and has just arrived in the PACU from surgery. Sleepiness in the immediate postoperative period is expected.
The nurse is caring for a patient with possible syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). The patient is confused and reports a headache, muscle cramps, and twitching. Which of the following initial laboratory results should the nurse anticipate?
- A. Elevated hematocrit
- B. Decreased serum sodium
- C. Increased serum chloride
- D. Low urine specific gravity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When water is retained, the serum sodium level will drop below normal, causing the clinical manifestations reported by the patient. The hematocrit will decrease because of the dilution caused by water retention. Urine will be more concentrated with a higher specific gravity. The serum chloride level will usually decrease along with the sodium level.
Which of the following information obtained by the nurse when caring for a patient who has diabetes insipidus (DI) is most important to report to the health care provider?
- A. History of a recent head injury
- B. Confusion and lethargy
- C. Urine output of 400 mL/hour
- D. Urine specific gravity is 1.003
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The patient's confusion and lethargy may indicate hypernatremia and should be addressed quickly. In addition, patients with DI compensate for fluid losses by drinking copious amounts of fluids, but a patient who is lethargic will be unable to drink enough fluids and will become hypovolemic. A high urine output, low urine specific gravity, and history of a recent head injury are consistent with diabetes insipidus, but they do not require immediate nursing action to avoid life-threatening complications.
The nurse is caring for a patient who has had a transsphenoidal resection of a pituitary tumour. Which of the following nursing actions should be included in the postoperative plan of care?
- A. Monitor urine output every hour.
- B. Palpate extremities for dependent edema.
- C. Check hematocrit hourly for first 12 hours.
- D. Obtain continuous pulse oximetry for 24 hours.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: After pituitary surgery, the patient is at risk for diabetes insipidus caused by cerebral edema and monitoring of urine output and urine specific gravity is essential. Hemorrhage is not a common problem. There is no need to check the hematocrit hourly. The patient is at risk for dehydration, not volume overload. The patient is not at high risk for problems with oxygenation, and continuous pulse oximetry is not needed.