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NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
The healthcare provider prescribes the antibiotic tetracycline HCl for an adult client that arrived at an outpatient clinic. Which instruction should the nurse include in the teaching plan for this client?
A. Protect the skin from sunlight while taking the drug.
reason: Tetracycline HCl can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight and increase the risk of sunburn. Therefore, the client should avoid exposure to direct sunlight and use sunscreen or protective clothing while taking the drug.
B. Take with orange juice to enhance GI absorption.
reason: Orange juice is acidic and can decrease the absorption of tetracycline HCl in the GI tract. Therefore, the client should not take the drug with orange juice or other acidic beverages.
C. Return to the clinic weekly to obtain serum drug levels.
reason: Serum drug levels are not routinely monitored for tetracycline HCl, as there is no established therapeutic range or toxicity level for this drug. Therefore, the client does not need to return to the clinic weekly to obtain serum drug levels.
D. Take with milk or antacids to prevent gastrointestinal (GI) irritation.
reason: Milk and antacids can bind to tetracycline HCl and reduce its effectiveness. Therefore, the client should not take the drug with milk or antacids or within 2 hours of consuming them.
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Full Explanation
Choice A reason: Tetracycline HCl can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight and increase the risk of sunburn. Therefore, the client should avoid exposure to direct sunlight and use sunscreen or protective clothing while taking the drug.
Choice B reason: Orange juice is acidic and can decrease the absorption of tetracycline HCl in the GI tract. Therefore, the client should not take the drug with orange juice or other acidic beverages.
Choice C reason: Serum drug levels are not routinely monitored for tetracycline HCl, as there is no established therapeutic range or toxicity level for this drug. Therefore, the client does not need to return to the clinic weekly to obtain serum drug levels.
Choice D reason: Milk and antacids can bind to tetracycline HCl and reduce its effectiveness. Therefore, the client should not take the drug with milk or antacids or within 2 hours of consuming them.
Similar Questions
The nurse administers risedronate to a client with osteoporosis at 0700. The client asks for a glass of milk to drink with the medication. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Instruct the client that it is necessary to take nothing but water with the medication.
reason: Risedronate is a bisphosphonate that is used to treat osteoporosis by inhibiting bone resorption. It should be taken on an empty stomach with a full glass of water at least 30 minutes before any other food, beverage, or medication. This is because food, milk, and antacids can interfere with the absorption of risedronate and reduce its effectiveness.
B. Assign an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to bring the client a glass of low fat milk.
reason: Milk contains calcium, which can bind to risedronate and prevent its absorption. Therefore, the client should not drink milk with or within 2 hours of taking risedronate.
C. Withhold the medication until the client's breakfast tray is available on the unit.
reason: Withholding the medication until the client's breakfast tray is available is not appropriate, as it would delay the administration of risedronate and disrupt the dosing schedule. The client should take risedronate as soon as possible after waking up and before eating anything.
D. Consult with a pharmacist about scheduling the dose one hour after the client eats.
reason: Consulting with a pharmacist about scheduling the dose one hour after the client eats is not necessary, as risedronate should be taken at least 30 minutes before any food or beverage. Taking risedronate one hour after eating may not ensure adequate absorption of the drug.
Full Explanation
Choice A reason: Risedronate is a bisphosphonate that is used to treat osteoporosis by inhibiting bone resorption. It should be taken on an empty stomach with a full glass of water at least 30 minutes before any other food, beverage, or medication. This is because food, milk, and antacids can interfere with the absorption of risedronate and reduce its effectiveness.
Choice B reason: Milk contains calcium, which can bind to risedronate and prevent its absorption. Therefore, the client should not drink milk with or within 2 hours of taking risedronate.
Choice C reason: Withholding the medication until the client's breakfast tray is available is not appropriate, as it would delay the administration of risedronate and disrupt the dosing schedule. The client should take risedronate as soon as possible after waking up and before eating anything.
Choice D reason: Consulting with a pharmacist about scheduling the dose one hour after the client eats is not necessary, as risedronate should be taken at least 30 minutes before any food or beverage. Taking risedronate one hour after eating may not ensure adequate absorption of the drug.
The nurse is planning care for a client with major depression who is receiving a new prescription for duloxetine. Which information is most important for the nurse to obtain?
A. Recent use of other antidepressants.
reason: Recent use of other antidepressants is important to know, as duloxetine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) that can interact with other antidepressants, especially monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, this information is not as important as liver function laboratory results, as duloxetine can cause hepatotoxicity in some clients.
B. Weight change in the last month.
reason: Weight change in the last month is relevant to monitor, as duloxetine can cause weight loss or gain in some clients. However, this information is not as important as liver function laboratory results, as duloxetine can cause liver damage in some clients.
C. Family history of mental illness.
reason: Family history of mental illness is useful to assess, as duloxetine may be more effective or less effective in clients with certain genetic factors. However, this information is not as important as liver function laboratory results, as duloxetine can cause liver failure in some clients.
D. Liver function laboratory results.
reason: Liver function laboratory results are most important to obtain, as duloxetine is metabolized by the liver and can cause hepatotoxicity in some clients. The nurse should monitor the client's liver enzymes and bilirubin levels before and during treatment with duloxetine and report any signs of liver impairment, such as jaundice, dark urine, abdominal pain, or fatigue.
Full Explanation
Choice A reason: Recent use of other antidepressants is important to know, as duloxetine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) that can interact with other antidepressants, especially monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, this information is not as important as liver function laboratory results, as duloxetine can cause hepatotoxicity in some clients.
Choice B reason: Weight change in the last month is relevant to monitor, as duloxetine can cause weight loss or gain in some clients. However, this information is not as important as liver function laboratory results, as duloxetine can cause liver damage in some clients.
Choice C reason: Family history of mental illness is useful to assess, as duloxetine may be more effective or less effective in clients with certain genetic factors. However, this information is not as important as liver function laboratory results, as duloxetine can cause liver failure in some clients.
Choice D reason: Liver function laboratory results are most important to obtain, as duloxetine is metabolized by the liver and can cause hepatotoxicity in some clients. The nurse should monitor the client's liver enzymes and bilirubin levels before and during treatment with duloxetine and report any signs of liver impairment, such as jaundice, dark urine, abdominal pain, or fatigue.
While assessing a client who takes acetaminophen for chronic pain, the nurse observes that the client's skin looks yellow in color. Which action should the nurse take in response to this finding?
A. Check the client's capillary glucose level.
reason: Checking the client's capillary glucose level is not relevant to this finding, as acetaminophen does not affect blood glucose levels. The yellow color of the skin may indicate jaundice, which is a sign of liver damage caused by acetaminophen overdose or toxicity.
B. Advise the client to reduce the medication dose.
reason: Advising the client to reduce the medication dose is not sufficient to address this finding, as acetaminophen can cause irreversible liver damage if taken in excess or for prolonged periods. The client may need immediate medical attention and treatment with an antidote such as N-acetylcysteine.
C. Report the finding to the healthcare provider.
reason: Reporting the finding to the healthcare provider is the appropriate action to take, as the yellow color of the skin may indicate jaundice, which is a sign of liver failure caused by acetaminophen overdose or toxicity. The healthcare provider can order further tests and interventions to assess and treat the client's condition.
D. Use a pulse oximeter to assess oxygen saturation.
reason: Using a pulse oximeter to assess oxygen saturation is not related to this finding, as acetaminophen does not affect oxygen levels. The yellow color of the skin may indicate jaundice, which is a sign of liver dysfunction caused by acetaminophen overdose or toxicity.
Full Explanation
Choice A reason: Checking the client's capillary glucose level is not relevant to this finding, as acetaminophen does not affect blood glucose levels. The yellow color of the skin may indicate jaundice, which is a sign of liver damage caused by acetaminophen overdose or toxicity.
Choice B reason: Advising the client to reduce the medication dose is not sufficient to address this finding, as acetaminophen can cause irreversible liver damage if taken in excess or for prolonged periods. The client may need immediate medical attention and treatment with an antidote such as N-acetylcysteine.
Choice C reason: Reporting the finding to the healthcare provider is the appropriate action to take, as the yellow color of the skin may indicate jaundice, which is a sign of liver failure caused by acetaminophen overdose or toxicity. The healthcare provider can order further tests and interventions to assess and treat the client's condition.
Choice D reason: Using a pulse oximeter to assess oxygen saturation is not related to this finding, as acetaminophen does not affect oxygen levels. The yellow color of the skin may indicate jaundice, which is a sign of liver dysfunction caused by acetaminophen overdose or toxicity.