A patient who has been using secobarbital for several months to treat insomnia tells the nurse that the prescriber has said the prescription will be changed to temazepam [Restoril] because it is safer. The patient asks why this agent is safer
The nurse is correct in telling the patient that temazepam: a. does not depress the central nervous sys-tem.
b. shows no respiratory depression, even in toxic doses.
c. mimics the actions of a central nervous system inhibitory neurotransmitter.
d. potentiates endogenous gam-ma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) producing a finite CNS depression.
D
Benzodiazepines potentiate the actions of GABA, and because the amount of GABA in the CNS is finite, these drugs' depressive effect on the CNS is limited. Benzodiazepines depress the CNS but not to the extent that barbiturates do. Benzodiazepines are weak respiratory depressants at therapeutic doses and moderate respiratory depressants at toxic doses. Barbiturates mimic GA-BA; therefore, because they produce CNS depression, this effect is limited only by the amount of barbiturate administered.
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1. People in this age range are cognitively impaired and unable to learn new information. 2. Patient teaching is not effective. 3. Individuals in this age range learn at the same rate as young-old adults. 4. May need teaching at a slower pace, with visual aids and repetition.
Mr. Jackson is terminally ill with metastatic cancer of the colon. His family notices that he is suddenly more focused and coherent. They are questioning whether he is really going to die. The nurse recognizes that a sudden surge of activity may occur
a. Moments before death b. Days to hours before death c. 1 to 2 weeks before death d. 1 to 3 months before death
Facing the changes in society, what have most state and local governments chosen to do?
a. Cut programs for low-income families to balance the budget b. Cut programs that primarily serve the middle class c. Increase taxes to meet revenue requirements d. Ignore any federal mandates that are unfunded
A child is not enrolled in the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). What should the nurse do to encourage the family to consider enrolling the child in this program?
1. Assessment of the details of the family's income and expenditures 2. Case management to limit costly, unnecessary duplication of services 3. Advocacy for the child by encouraging the family to investigate its CHIP eligibility 4. Education of the family about the need for keeping regular well-child visit appointments