A patient newly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease has been taking levodopa/carbidopa [Sinemet] for several weeks and complains of nausea and vomiting. The nurse tells the patient to discuss what with the provider?
a. Taking a lower dose on an empty stomach
b. Taking an increased dose along with a high-protein snack
c. Taking a lower dose with a low-protein snack
d. Taking dopamine in addition to levodo-pa/carbidopa
C
Because levodopa activates the chemoreceptive trigger zone (CTZ) of the medulla, causing nau-sea and vomiting (N/V), the patient may need to take a lower dose temporarily until tolerance develops. A meal helps slow absorption to minimize this side effect. A high protein intake con-tributes to abrupt loss of effect, so meals should be low in protein. Taking a dose on an empty stomach increases absorption and also N/V. An increased dose with a high-protein snack in-creases N/V and also abrupt loss of effect. Dopamine increases N/V, because it activates the CTZ of the medulla.
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A new mother asks why she has to open a new bottle of formula for each feeding. The nurse's best response is:
a. "This makes it easier to keep track of how much the baby is taking." b. "Formula loses some nutritional value once it is opened." c. "Bacteria can grow rapidly in warm milk." d. "Formula may turn sour after it is opened."
When the nurse brings medications to a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, the patient refuses the prescribed methotrexate (Rheumatrex). The patient tells the nurse, "My arthritis isn't that bad yet
The side effects of methotrexate are worse than the arthritis." The most appropriate response by the nurse is a. "You have the right to refuse to take the methotrexate." b. "Methotrexate is less expensive than some of the newer drugs." c. "It is important to start methotrexate early to decrease the extent of joint damage." d. "Methotrexate is effective and has fewer side effects than some of the other drugs."
The healthcare worker should stay with patients until they ________ their medications to prevent them from spitting them out when not being observed.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).
The nurse is caring for a patient with hepatitis. The nurse explains that jaundice occurs in conjunction with hepatitis based on which underlying pathophysiology?
a. Liver ischemia in hepatitis causes jaundice. b. Increased bile production by the enlarged Kupffer cells causes jaundice. c. The hepatitis virus destroys red blood cells and causes jaundice. d. Hepatitis causes liver congestion that ob-structs bile flow.