When initially planning care for the older adult patient who is prescribed clonidine patches as part of a smoking cessation program, the nurse
a. assesses the patient for any skin disorders on the upper arms and back.
b. determines how many cigarettes or cigars the patient smokes per day.
c. asks if the patient is currently taking any antihypertensive medications.
d. educates the patient to the possible side effects of clonidine therapy.
C
Clonidine is an antihypertensive, so knowledge of the patient's medication history is vital to avoid inducing hypotension. The other assessments are not related to patient safety.
You might also like to view...
While the preferred site for obtaining a client's blood pressure measurement is over the brachial artery, what artery is the next measurement site of choice?
a. dorsalis pedis c. popliteal b. posterior tibial d. radial
A client who has returned from surgery after an amputation of the lower leg complains of significant pain in the absent foot. The nurse should:
1. tell the client the foot is gone. 2. administer pain medication. 3. request a psychiatric consult. 4. notify the physician.
The nurse is caring for a patient with a history of falling during hospitalization. What should this nurse do to reduce the risk of the patient falling again?
1. Review the National Patient Safety goals for implementation strategies to reduce falls. 2. Ask the health care provider for an order for restraints. 3. Contact the staffing office to request a sitter for the patient. 4. Instruct the patient to call for help and place the bed in the high position.
The nurse would pursue additional assessment and evaluation of an older adult client with diabetes upon assessing which of the following?
A) Cherry angioma B) Cutaneous horn C) Seborrheic keratosis D) Pressure ulcer