Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A nurse is teaching a client who has angina about a new prescription for sublingual nitroglycerin tablets.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Take one tablet each morning 30 minutes prior to eating.
Choice A is wrong because nitroglycerin sublingual tablets are not used to prevent angina attacks on a daily basis. They are used as needed, either 5 to 10 minutes before activities that may cause attacks of angina or at the first sign of an attack.
B. Discard any tablets you do not use every 6 months.
Choice B is wrong because nitroglycerin sublingual tablets do not need to be discarded every 6 months. They have a shelf life of up to 3 years if stored properly.
C. Keep the tablets at room temperature in their original glass bottle.
This is because nitroglycerin sublingual tablets are used to treat episodes of angina (chest pain) in people who have coronary artery disease. They work by relaxing the blood vessels so the heart does not need to work as hard and therefore does not need as much oxygen. Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets should not be chewed, crushed, or swallowed. They work much faster when absorbed through the lining of the mouth. Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets should be stored at room temperature in their original glass bottle to protect them from moisture and light.
D. Place the tablet between your cheek and gum to dissolve.
Choice D is wrong because nitroglycerin sublingual tablets should not be placed between the cheek and gum to dissolve. They should be placed under the tongue or between the cheek and tongue. Placing them between the cheek and gum may reduce their effectiveness.
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
Similar Questions
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.
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.
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.