A patient who is prescribed atorvastatin (Lipitor) reports experiencing some muscle pain and weakness. What is the nurse's best action?
a. Administer ordered acetaminophen (Tylenol) as needed.
b. Document the finding as the only action.
c. Reassure the patient that this is an expected side effect.
d. Hold the drug and notify the prescriber.
D
Atorvastatin is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) drug. Patients may develop rhabdo-myolysis (muscle breakdown) as an adverse effect of these drugs. Signs and symptoms include general muscle soreness, muscle pain, and weakness. The drug should be held and the prescriber notified. The patient will need to be prescribed another antihyperlipidemic drug.
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Which of the following statements concerning neurologic and sensory development is accurate?
1. Brain waves have been recorded on an electroencephalogram as early as the end of the first trimester (12 weeks). 2. Fetuses respond to sound by 24 weeks and can be soothed by the sound of the mother's voice. 3. Eyes are first receptive to light at 34 to 36 weeks. 4. At term, the fetal brain is at least one third the size of an adult brain.
A nurse is teaching a class about international health policy. In that class, what does primary health care refer to?
A. The first point of contact within the health-care system B. The bare minimum and essential care needed for health, both in individuals and within the community C. The acute care setting D. The coordinator of more specialized care
A home care patient uses an electric heating pad. What can you do to promote the person's safety?
a. Remove the electric heating pad from the person's home. b. Make sure the heating pad is in good re-pair. c. Cover the heating pad with a plastic cover. d. Tell the person to change the temperature setting whenever it feels too cool.
A psychiatric–mental health nurse is aware that variations in pharmacokinetics can greatly affect individuals' responses to drugs. Which of the following clients may experience disruptions in the normal elimination of a drug?
A) A client who has been diagnosed with vascular dementia B) A client who has a genetic alteration in her P450 liver enzyme system C) A client who has ingested a large amount of free water D) A client who has been diagnosed with chronic renal failure