A client taking a protease inhibitor has a detectable HIV viral load and reports taking St. John's wort to help with feelings of depression. What should the nurse explain about St. John's wort?
a. It can be used in small amounts with few side effects
b. It is a natural product which rarely have adverse effects
c. It causes decreased absorption of protease inhibitors and should be avoided
d. It has been reported to be helpful with depression and is better than taking chemicals
c. It causes decreased absorption of protease inhibitors and should be avoided
St. John's Wort has been shown to decrease levels of protease inhibitors and contribute to treatment failure. Even all-natural products can cause adverse side effects or interactions with drugs or nutrients. Although there are some reports of successful treatment of depressive symptoms, natural supplements are rarely evaluated using controlled clinical trials, and so claims are usually based on anecdotal reports. Even a small amount may cause adverse effects.
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The nurse in a pain clinic is assessing a palliative patient. The patient indicates that he has been saving his analgesics until the pain is intense because the pain control has been poor
What teaching does the nurse knows should be done with this patient? A) Medication should be taken when pain levels are low so the pain is easier to reduce. B) Pain medication can be increased when the pain is intense. C) It is difficult to control chronic pain, so little can be done. D) Instruct the patient to lie still and think of something else during intense pain.
The nurse is preparing to insert a nasogastric (NG) tube. Which techniques should the nurse use to measure the length of an NG tube before gastric intubation?
a. Measure and mark a point 72 cm (30 inches) from the end. b. Measure from the nose to the middle of the sternum. c. Measure from the nose to the ear to the patient's navel. d. Measure from the nose to the earlobe to the xiphoid process.
A patient comes to the clinic complaining of frequent, watery stools for the last 2 days. Which action should the nurse take first?
a. Obtain the baseline weight. b. Check the patient's blood pressure. c. Draw blood for serum electrolyte levels. d. Ask about any extremity numbness or tingling.
Which of the following statements about neonatal development is accurate?
A) Neonates may have an infection without fever B) Breast-fed infants do not become ill due to immunity C) Neonates prefer sleeping and often refuse to eat D) Neonates have defense to communicable disease