The nurse is administering the first dose of irinotecan (Camptosar) to a patient on the oncology unit. Shortly after the infusion is complete, the patient begins to complain of severe diarrhea. The nurse understands that the diarrhea is caused by
a. excessive cholinergic stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract.
b. stimulation of H2 receptors.
c. excessive water being drawn into the gastrointestinal tract.
d. bowel obstruction.
A
Early diarrhea occurs within 24 hours of administration of irinotecan because of excessive cho-linergic stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract.
The medication does not cause excessive stimulation of H2 receptors, which would not cause di-arrhea in any case.
Although one etiology of diarrhea is excessive waters drawn into the GI tract, this is not the eti-ology of the diarrhea caused by irinotecan.
Bowel obstruction is unlikely with irinotecan.
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The nurse is caring for a patient of the Muslim faith who prays ritually several times daily. The patient tells the nurse, "I don't know how I can possibly pray using my prayer rugs here in the hospital." What is the nurse's best response?
1. "Prayer is an important part of healing for every patient. I will make sure you can have your prayer rugs here in the hospital." 2. "Prayer using a prayer rug is not usually encouraged in the hospital. I will ask my nursing supervisor about your request." 3. "I understand that this ritual is important to you. I will do my best to make sure you have your prayer rugs here in the hospital." 4. "I understand that this ritual is important to you. While prayer using a prayer rug is not encouraged in the hospital, I will see what I can do."
The nurse is teaching a group in the community about drug abuse. Which statement by the nurse is correct?
a. "Cue-induced cravings eventually disappear after long periods of abstinence by the person addicted to drugs." b. "Drug abuse and drug addiction are synonymous terms, describing dependence on drugs." c. "Drug addiction is characterized by emotional, mental, and sometimes physical dependence." d. "Drug addiction occurs when physical dependence is present."
A nurse is facilitating a teaching group for family members of patients with schizophrenia. A focus of the group will be the monitoring of medication administration and side effects. Priority teaching for this focus will concentrate on:
a. minimizing the physical complications related to medication side effects. b. identifying methods to manage and control the patient's psychotic behavior. c. using tactics proven to be effective in the prevention of patient noncompliance. d. recognizing the signs and symptoms of potential medication-related side effects.