Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A nurse is teaching a client who has a prescription for ferrous gluconate. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. I should stay upright for at least 15 minutes after taking this medication.
The client should stay upright for at least 15 minutes after taking ferrous gluconate to prevent oesophagal irritation.
B. I should take an antacid with this medication to prevent stomach upset.
Choice B is wrong because taking an antacid with ferrous gluconate can decrease its absorption and effectiveness.
C. I should take this medication with 8 ounces of milk.
Choice C is wrong because taking ferrous gluconate with milk can also reduce its absorption and cause gastrointestinal distress.
D. I should notify my provider if my stools turn black.
Choice D is wrong because black stools are a common and harmless side effect of ferrous gluconate and do not indicate a need to notify the provider. Ferrous gluconate is an iron supplement used to treat or prevent iron deficiency anemia, a condition where the body does not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues. Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in the blood.
This question is an excerpt from Nurse Dive's nursing test bank - ATI RN Pharmacology 2019 Proctored Exam. Take the full exam now
Full Explanation
The client should stay upright for at least 15 minutes after taking ferrous gluconate to prevent oesophagal irritation. Choice B is wrong because taking an antacid with ferrous gluconate can decrease its absorption and effectiveness.
Choice C is wrong because taking ferrous gluconate with milk can also reduce its absorption and cause gastrointestinal distress.
Choice D is wrong because black stools are a common and harmless side effect of ferrous gluconate and do not indicate a need to notify the provider. Ferrous gluconate is an iron supplement used to treat or prevent iron deficiency anaemia, a condition where the body does not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues.
Iron is an essential component of haemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in the blood.
Similar Questions
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for paroxetine.
The nurse should instruct the client to monitor for which of the following adverse effects?
A. Tinnitus.
Choice A is wrong because tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is not a common adverse effect of paroxetine. It may occur rarely in some patients, but it is not a typical symptom of SSRI use.
B. Alopecia.
Choice B is wrong because alopecia (hair loss) is not a common adverse effect of paroxetine. It may occur rarely in some patients, but it is not a typical symptom of SSRI use.
C. Peripheral edema.
Choice C is wrong because peripheral edema (swelling of the limbs) is not a common adverse effect of paroxetine. It may occur rarely in some patients, but it is not a typical symptom of SSRI use.
D. Drowsiness.
Drowsiness is a very common adverse effect of paroxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat depression and anxiety. Paroxetine can cause somnolence (sleepiness) in up to 22% of patients who take it. The nurse should instruct the client to monitor for this effect and avoid driving or operating machinery until they know how the medication affects them.
Full Explanation
Drowsiness is a very common adverse effect of paroxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat depression and anxiety. Paroxetine can cause somnolence (sleepiness) in up to 22% of patients who take it. The nurse should instruct the client to monitor for this effect and avoid driving or operating machinery until they know how the medication affects them.
Choice A is wrong because tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is not a common adverse effect of paroxetine.
It may occur rarely in some patients, but it is not a typical symptom of SSRI use.
Choice B is wrong because alopecia (hair loss) is not a common adverse effect of paroxetine.
It may occur rarely in some patients, but it is not a typical symptom of SSRI use.
Choice C is wrong because peripheral edema (swelling of the limbs) is not a common adverse effect of paroxetine.
It may occur rarely in some patients, but it is not a typical symptom of SSRI use.
A nurse is caring for a client who is in shock and is receiving an infusion of albumin.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Decrease in protein.
Choice A is wrong because albumin infusion does not decrease protein levels in the body. Albumin is a protein itself and adding it to the blood increases the protein concentration.
B. Increase in BP.
Albumin is a protein that helps maintain fluid balance in the body by drawing water into the blood vessels. Albumin infusion can increase the blood volume and blood pressure in patients who are in shock due to fluid loss or sepsis.
C. Oxygen saturation 96%.
Choice C is wrong because oxygen saturation of 96% is normal and does not indicate any improvement or deterioration in the patient’s condition.
D. PaCO2, 30 mm Hg.
Choice D is wrong because PaCO2 of 30 mm Hg is low and indicates respiratory alkalosis, which can be caused by hyperventilation, fever, or anxiety. Albumin infusion does not affect PaCO2 levels directly.
Full Explanation
Albumin is a protein that helps maintain fluid balance in the body by drawing water into the blood vessels. Albumin infusion can increase the blood volume and blood pressure in patients who are in shock due to fluid loss or sepsis.
Choice A is wrong because albumin infusion does not decrease protein levels in the body.
Albumin is a protein itself and adding it to the blood increases the protein concentration.
Choice C is wrong because oxygen saturation of 96% is normal and does not indicate any improvement or deterioration in the patient’s condition.
Choice D is wrong because PaCO2 of 30 mm Hg is low and indicates respiratory alkalosis, which can be caused by hyperventilation, fever, or anxiety. Albumin infusion does not affect PaCO2 levels directly.
A nurse is receiving a medication prescription by telephone from a provider. The provider states, “Administer 6 milligrams of morphine IV push every 3 hours as needed for acute pain.” How should the nurse transcribe the prescription in the client’s medical record?
A. Morphine 6 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain.
This is because it uses the full name of the drug, the exact dose, the route of administration, the frequency, and the indication for use. It also avoids any abbreviations that could be confused with other drugs or measurements.
B. MS6 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain.
Choice B is wrong because MS is an abbreviation for morphine sulfate that could be mistaken for magnesium sulfate.
C. MSO4 6 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain.
Choice C is wrong because MSO4 is an abbreviation for morphine sulfate that could be mistaken for magnesium sulfate.
D. Morphine 6.0 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain.
Choice D is wrong because 6.0 mg could be misread as 60 mg and lead to a tenfold overdose. Normal ranges for morphine dosage depend on the route of administration, the indication, and the patient’s tolerance and response. For acute pain, the usual oral dose is 10 to 30 mg every 4 hours as needed. For chronic pain, the usual oral dose is 15 to 30 mg every 8 to 12 hours as needed. For intravenous (IV) administration, the usual dose is 2.5 to 15 mg every 4 hours as needed. The morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) is a concept that attempts to establish an equivalency in terms of dose when comparing any opioid to morphine.
Full Explanation
This is because it uses the full name of the drug, the exact dose, the route of administration, the frequency, and the indication for use. It also avoids any abbreviations that could be confused with other drugs or measurements.
Choice B is wrong because MS is an abbreviation for morphine sulfate which could be mistaken for magnesium sulfate.
Choice C is wrong because MSO4 is an abbreviation for morphine sulfate that could be mistaken for magnesium sulfate.
Choice D is wrong because 6.0 mg could be misread as 60 mg and lead to a tenfold overdose.
Normal ranges for morphine dosage depend on the route of administration, the indication, and the patient’s tolerance and response.
For acute pain, the usual oral dose is 10 to 30 mg every 4 hours as needed. For chronic pain, the usual oral dose is 15 to 30 mg every 8 to 12 hours as needed.
For intravenous (IV) administration, the usual dose is 2.5 to 15 mg every 4 hours as needed.
The morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) is a concept that attempts to establish an equivalency in terms of dose when comparing any opioid to morphine.