A patient reports taking an oral bisacodyl laxative (Dulcolax) for several years. The provider has suggested discontinuing the laxative, but the patient is unsure how to do this. The nurse will tell the patient to:
a. stop taking the oral laxative and use a suppository until normal motility resumes.
b. stop taking the laxative immediately and expect no stool for several days.
c. switch to a bulk-forming laxative, such as methylcellulose (Metamucil).
d. withdraw from the laxative slowly to avoid a rebound constipation effect.
ANS: B
The first step in breaking the laxative habit is abrupt cessation of laxative use. Bowel movements will be absent for several days after laxative withdrawal. Using a suppository, a bulk-forming laxative, or tapering the laxative only prolongs the habit and prevents normal function from returning.
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The nurse is assessing a 75-year-old man. As the nurse begins the mental status portion of the assessment, the nurse expects that this patient:
a. Will have no decrease in any of his abilities, including response time. b. Will have difficulty on tests of remote memory because this ability typically decreases with age. c. May take a little longer to respond, but his general knowledge and abilities should not have declined. d. Will exhibit had a decrease in his response time because of the loss of language and a decrease in general knowledge.
The most significant complication of the use of an external fixator on the lower leg for a fractured tibia reduction is which of the following?
A. Skin impairment B. Muscle atrophy C. Acute pain D. Infection
Which situation presents an example of the basic concept of a recovery model?
A. The client's family is encouraged to make decisions in order to facilitate discharge. B. A social worker, discovering the client's income, changes the client's discharge placement. C. A psychiatrist prescribes an antipsychotic drug on the basis of observed symptoms. D. A client diagnosed with schizophrenia schedules follow-up appointments and group therapy.
When administering a standard or median effective dose to a client, the nurse explains that this amount of drug will have which effect?
A. It will produce an effect without the presence of adverse effects. B. It will be metabolized within 24 hours. C. It will be effective in half of the population. D. It will be effective in the majority of clients.