A patient has been prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant. After taking the new medication, the patient states, "This medication isn't working. I don't feel any different." What is the best response by the nurse?
a. "I will call your care provider. Perhaps you need a different medication."
b. "Don't worry. You can try taking it at a different time of day to help it work better."
c. "It usually takes a few weeks for you to notice improvement from this medication."
d. "Your life is much better now. You will feel better soon."
ANS: C
Seeing a response to antidepressants takes 3 to 6 weeks. No change in medications is indicated at this point of treatment because there is no report of adverse effects from the medication. If nausea is present, taking the medication with food may help, but this is not reported by the patient, so a change in administration time is not needed. Telling a depressed patient that their life is better does not acknowledge their feelings.
You might also like to view...
A nurse cares for a client who has a serum potassium of 7.5 mEq/L and is exhibiting cardiovascular changes. Which prescription should the nurse implement first?
a. Prepare to administer sodium polystyrene sulfate (Kayexalate) 15 g by mouth. b. Provide a heart healthy, low-potassium diet. c. Prepare to administer dextrose 20% and 10 units of regular insulin IV push. d. Prepare the client for hemodialysis treatment.
The nurse is caring for the patient with a history of addiction. The nurse notes that although the patient is in severe pain, the patient's requests for pain medication have been ignored
Which ethical principle is the nurse exercising when advocating for appropriate pain relief? 1. Justice 2. Autonomy 3. Beneficence 4. Nonmaleficence
A nurse in a primary care physician's office receives a call from a client whose urine is dark in color
The nurse asks some questions about symptoms related to urinary tract infections and decides that the client might have hematuria, which can best be described as: a. the urge to urinate frequently c. a weak urinary stream b. blood in the urine d. anemia
Journal clubs involve meetings to discuss and critically evaluate research studies
A) True B) False