A patient states, "My doctor said sometimes I may have an on-and-off problem with this medication. What does that mean?" How should the nurse respond?
1. "The on times will be when your symptoms are under control; the off times are when you will have increased problems with symptom management.".
2. "There will be times when you are depressed (off) and when you are happy (on).".
3. "You will have to take breaks from this medicine by stopping (off) and starting it (on) again so you don't build up a tolerance to it.".
4. "The off-on phases are associated with your appetite.".
1
Rationale 1: Patients taking Parkinson's drugs can experience episodes of hypomobility (off) when the dopamine/acetylcholine are imbalanced, and periods of symptom management (on) when these two neurotransmitters are in better balance.
Rationale 2: The on–off phenomenon has nothing to do with depressive episodes.
Rationale 3: The medication for Parkinson's should not be started and stopped.
Rationale 4: Appetite is not associated with on-off phases.
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Which nursing action is especially important for an SGA newborn?
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The patient is a 45-year-old African-American male who has come in for a routine annual physical. Which type of preventive screening does the nurse discuss with the patient?
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