After giving the first dose of any antihypertensive drug for heart failure, what action must the nurse take for patient safety?
a. Recheck the drug order for accuracy.
b. Ensure that the call light is within reach.
c. Place a wheelchair in the patient's room.
d. Raise all four siderails on the patient's bed.
B
Antihypertensive drugs decrease blood pressure and increase a patient's risk for dizziness, light-headedness, and hypotension. After giving the first dose of any antihypertensive drug, the nurse should be sure that the call light is within easy reach and instruct the patient to call for as-sistance when getting out of bed. A wheelchair is not necessary and standards of practice state that the nurse should not raise all four siderails because there is a risk for falls if the patient tries to get out of bed alone.
You might also like to view...
A child is admitted to the hospital because she had a seizure. Her parents report that for the past few weeks she has had headaches, with vomiting, that are worse in the morning. What does the nurse suspect?
a. Meningitis b. Reye's syndrome c. Brain tumor d. Encephalitis
A client with hypercholesterolemia is prescribed lovastatin. When instructing the client how to take the drug, which of the following would the nurse include?
A) Taking the drug with his evening meal B) Combining the drug with the artificial sweetener aspartame C) Mixing the drug with highly fluid soups or pulpy fruits D) Taking the drug with grapefruit juice
A client is treated in the clinic for a sexually transmitted infection, and the nurse suspects that the client is at risk for HIV. The physician determines that the client should be tested for the virus. What responsibility does the nurse have?
A) The nurse ensures a written consent is obtained prior to testing. B) The nurse should send the client to have the blood drawn without informing him about the specific screening test. C) The nurse will call the client with the results of the test. D) The nurse will inform the client that the results will have to be reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A client on a prescribed medication for a skin disorder visits the clinic complaining of a skin rash. Which of the following would explain the client's condition?
A) Drug allergy B) Hormone change C) Suntan D) Heat stroke