A patient who has occasional migraine headaches tells a nurse that the abortive medication works well, but she would like to do more to prevent the occurrence of these headaches. The nurse will suggest that the patient:
a. ask the provider about an adjunct medication, such as prochlorperazine.
b. discuss the use of prophylactic medications with the provider.
c. keep a headache diary to help determine possible triggers.
d. take the abortive medication regularly instead of PRN.
ANS: C
Keeping a headache diary to try to identify triggers to migraines can be helpful when a patient is trying to prevent them and is the first step in managing headaches. Prochlorperazine is an antiemetic and does not prevent or abort migraine headaches. Prophylactic medications are used when headaches are more frequent. To prevent medication overuse headache, abortive medications should not be used more than 1 to 2 days at a time.
You might also like to view...
If a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is suspected, the nurse should:
a. perform a Homans sign on the affected leg. b. dorsiflex the foot of the affected leg. c. palpate the affected leg for edema and pain. d. place the client on bed rest, with the affected leg elevated.
The client who requires long-term intravenous therapy and will be having a central VAD inserted asks the nurse what the differences are between a tunneled and a nontunneled central VAD. What is the nurse's best response?
A. "Tunneled VADs can remain in place longer and have a lower risk for infection than nontunneled VADs." B. "Nontunneled VADs protrude through the skin surface and tunneled VADs are totally implanted beneath the skin surface." C. "Nontunneled VADs can only be inserted into peripheral blood vessels and tun-neled VADs are inserted into central blood vessels." D. "Tunneled VADs can be used for drawing blood samples, but blood cannot be drawn for laboratory analysis through a nontunneled VAD."
The nursing staff is reviewing standards of care, standardized care plans, protocols, policies, and procedures for a multi-system health care facility. Why are these documents important to the nursing staff when providing client care?
1. To make sure all clients have the same type of care 2. To ensure that minimally accepted standards of care are met 3. To promote efficient use of the nurse's time 4. To eliminate care disparities among clients 5. To minimize health care costs
When conducting a spiritual assessment of a hospitalized patient, the nurse should remain aware of which potential barrier to effective communication?
a. Clarifying the meaning of a patient's statement b. Multi-tasking while talking to the patient c. Listening to patients' complete statements d. Discussing patient's feelings while hospitalized