A parent says to the nurse, "The doctor prescribed ethosuximide (Zarontin) for my child, who has absence seizures. What does this mean?" What is the best response by the nurse?
1. "Absence seizures are basically the same kind of seizures as grand mal, but they are less frequent."
2. "Your daughter's seizures manifest as a staring into space for a few seconds. Ethosuximide (Zarontin) is a good medication for this type of seizure."
3. "Explaining the types of seizure activity is complicated. Have you spoken to your doctor about it?"
4. "Are you sure your doctor prescribed ethosuximide (Zarontin)? Phenobarbital (Luminal) is used much more frequently with children."
2
Rationale 1: Grand mal, or tonic-clonic, seizures are different from absence or petit mal seizures; they are different forms of epilepsy.
Rationale 2: It is the responsibility of the RN to educate the patient, not just refer questions to the physician.
Rationale 3: Ethosuximide (Zarontin), not phenobarbital (Luminal), is the drug of choice for absence seizures.
Rationale 4: Absence seizures, formerly known as petit mal, last a few seconds and are seen most often in children. Ethosuximide (Zarontin) is a drug of choice for this type of seizure disorder.
Global Rationale: Absence seizures, formerly known as petit mal, last a few seconds and are seen most often in children. Ethosuximide (Zarontin) is a drug of choice for this type of seizure disorder. Grand mal, or tonic-clonic, seizures are different from absence or petit mal seizures; they are different forms of epilepsy. Ethosuximide (Zarontin), not phenobarbital (Luminal), is the drug of choice for absence seizures. It is the responsibility of the RN to educate the patient, not just refer questions to the physician.
You might also like to view...
The nurse has set a goal of becoming a clinical nurse leader (CNL). What actions should this nurse plan to reach this goal?
1. Obtain experience as a nurse manager. 2. Learn as much as possible about the hospital's organization. 3. Take a class in hospital administration. 4. Return to school to obtain a master's degree.
A 49-year-old patient is admitted with uncontrolled chest pain. He is currently taking nitroglycerin (Nitrostat). His physician orders nifedipine (Adalat) added to his regimen. The nurse should observe the patient for what adverse effects?
A) Hypokalemia B) Renal insufficiency C) Hypotension D) Hypoglycemia
A public health nurse promoting the annual influenza vaccination is focusing health promotion efforts on the populations most vulnerable to death from influenza. The nurse should focus on which of the following groups?
A) Preschool-aged children B) Adults with diabetes and/or renal failure C) Older adults with compromised health status D) Infants under the age of 12 months
Which person might be most at danger from the environment?
A. The home health aide who cared for fairly healthy elderly clients in elderly housing B. The nurse who worked as a scrub nurse in the operating room C. The sanitarian who made rounds to assess the safety of restaurants, wells, and swimming pools D. The ward clerk who answered the phone, greeted visitors, and responded to patient call bells