The nurse is instructing a patient who is experiencing chronic nausea and vomiting about antiemetic therapy. What is the most important precaution the nurse teaches the patient?
a. "Rinse your mouth frequently to reduce the unpleasant sensation of dry mouth."
b. "Report any constipation lasting two days or longer to your prescriber."
c. "Wear sunscreen and protective clothing when going outdoors."
d. "Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while taking this drug."
D
All of the antiemetic drugs cause some degree of central nervous system depression, although some drugs have a more profound action than others. Alcohol increases CNS depression, in-creasing the risks for injury, cognitive changes, and respiratory depression. In addition, alcohol may intensify the experience of nausea. Although it is also important to remind patients to avoid sun exposure because of increased sun sensitivity, and to rinse the mouth to reduce dry mouth sensation, alcohol avoidance is the most important precaution because it can lead to more serious complications.
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The nurse instructs a family member how to guide a visually impaired person when ambulating by:
1. holding the visually impaired person by his or her nondominant arm and walking side by side. 2. holding the nondominant hand, wrapping the arm around his or her waist, and walking side by side. 3. allowing the visually impaired person to hold the helper's arm, with the helper slightly ahead. 4. allowing the visually impaired person to hold the shoulder of the helper and walk slightly behind the helper.
A female patient is concerned after learning that a person with whom she had a casual sexual encounter has been diagnosed as being HIV positive. Which other patient statement would the nurse evaluate as significant?
1. "I have not felt bad since the possible exposure." 2. "We were only together for about a week and had sex 3 or 4 times." 3. "I did have a cold and sore throat last week, but it has cleared up without problems." 4. "I had a normal period just a few days after we broke up."
An elderly female patient is becoming progressively more confused. She begins talking to long-gone loved ones about places and events that do not make any sense to her family. A nurse should
1. Verify the patient's level of consciousness. 2. Attempt to reorient the patient. 3. Protect the patient from injury by bed rails or equipment. 4. Hydrate the patient.
When taking the blood pressure of a client after a parathyroidectomy, the nurse notes that the client's hand has gone into flexion contractions. Which laboratory result does the nurse correlate with this condition?
a. Serum potassium, 2.9 mEq/L b. Serum potassium, 5.8 mEq/L c. Serum sodium, 122 mEq/L d. Serum calcium, 6.9 mg/dL