A patient who has pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is receiving epoprostenol (Flolan) at a rate of 210 ng per minute using a portable pump
The patient weighs 70 kg. The patient calls the clinic to report headache, nausea, and vomiting. The nurse will counsel the patient to:
a. decrease the infusion to 100 ng per minute.
b. discuss these side effects with the provider.
c. prepare for a hospital admission.
d. stop the infusion and contact the provider.
ANS: B
Headache, nausea, and vomiting are common side effects of epoprostenol and are dose dependent. Patients should contact their provider to discuss these side effects and any necessary dosage adjustments. One hundred ng per minute is below the maintenance dose range for this patient; patients should not adjust doses without contacting the provider. The side effects are not serious and do not warrant hospitalization. Interruption of the drug can have life-threatening consequences.
You might also like to view...
What is the earliest age at which the infant should be able to walk independently?
a. 8 to 10 months b. 12 to 15 months c. 15 to 18 months d. 18 to 21 months
Core body temperature is the temperature of the blood circulating through the
a. heart and major arteries of the trunk. c. hypothalamus. b. abdominal organs. d. mucous membranes.
Identify the nurse who is acting as a community health nurse. Choose all that apply
1) School nurse who provides screening and direct care in the elementary school 2) Parish nurse who offers health education after services each Sunday 3) Nurse who works for the Red Cross by providing disaster relief 4) A nurse administering vaccines to inmates in a correctional facility
A client is receiving an oral anticoagulant. Before the next dose of an oral anticoagulant, the nurse notes that the prothrombin time (PT) is 32 seconds. The nurse should:
a. plan to administer the next dose. b. hold the next dose for three hours. c. reorder the testb because the value is low. d. notify the health care provider.