You are caring for a patient admitted with a myocardial infarction. While you are doing the admission assessment, the patient asks you for a laxative. The patient tells you he suffers from constipation
What would you teach this patient to do to help his constipation?
A) Take a mild laxative every day
B) Drink prune juice every day
C) Establish a nutritious diet
D) Don't strain during defecation
Ans: D
Feedback: When straining during defecation, the patient bears down (the Valsalva maneuver), which momentarily increases pressure on the baroreceptors. This triggers a vagal response, causing the heart rate to slow and resulting in syncope in some patients. Straining during urination can produce the same response. Daily laxatives are not recommended as your body will come to depend on them. Establishing a nutritious diet should be done whether you have constipation or not.
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A basic rule for the nurse when caring for clients who are experiencing impaired skin integrity related to an infectious disorder of the skin would be to:
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Which of the following is an adverse effect of valproic acid?
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