A patient who has been prescribed timolol (Timoptic) for the last month reports that his asthma is worse. What is the nurse's best response?
a. Check the patient's breath sounds and pulse rate.
b. Hold the dose and notify the prescriber immediately.
c. Ask the patient what drugs he takes to control his asthma.
d. Reassure the patient that this is an expected response and requires no action.
A
Timolol is a nonspecific beta blocker that can have systemic effects. It can cause bronchocon-striction and can make heart failure worse with backing of fluid into the lungs. The first action is to determine whether the patient needs immediate attention for either bronchoconstriction or possible heart failure. This is done by assessing breath sounds with a stethoscope and checking the pulse for rate, strength, and regularity. If a pulse oximeter is available, it should be used to assess the patient's degree of oxygen saturation. The results of this assessment along with the patient's report are then provided to the prescriber. It is likely that the class of drugs used to con-trol this patient's glaucoma will need to be changed.
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According to U.S. and Canadian contract law, the nurse has the right to all of the following EXCEPT
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To achieve therapeutic effectiveness, a nurse teaches a patient with chronic asthma to use an inhaled glucocorticoid medication according to which schedule?
A. Only in an emergency B. On a continuing, daily basis C. To abort an asthma attack D. 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off