A patient who is an active alcoholic is admitted to the hospital for surgery. The nurse reviewing orders for this patient would be correct to question which postoperative medication for this patient?
a. Acetaminophen
b. Diazepam
c. Morphine
d. Thiamine
ANS: A
Acetaminophen poses a risk of fatal liver damage in alcoholics, because evidence indicates that even modest alcohol consumption combined with acetaminophen has this effect. Diazepam would probably be useful in this case, because it is used to aid alcohol withdrawal. However, diazepam cannot be taken with alcohol, because the central nervous system (CNS) depressive effects would be compounded. Likewise, morphine is safe as long as it is not given with alcohol. Thiamine is a vitamin that often is deficient in alcoholics, so thiamine would be indicated.
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A) Most likely to be addressed using a quantitative approach B) Most likely to be addressed using a qualitative approach C) Not researchable D) Not appropriately worded
The nurse charts that the patient had periods of tachypnea during the night. This means that the respiration rate was:
1. below 12 breaths/minute. 2. uneven, with periods of apnea. 3. gradually deepening, then shallow, and then periods of apnea. 4. above 20 breaths/minute.
Assessment for surfactant level is a primary estimation of fetal maturity. The purpose of surfactant is to
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A student nurse is assisting with the care of a 50-year-old man who is being treated in the emergency department for hypothermia. The student asks the charge nurse why the patient is having his heart monitored
The nurse's best explanation would be that the heart is being moni-tored because serious arrhythmias can be caused by: a. rapidly rising blood pressure from infusing IV fluids. b. adrenal output of epinephrine in response to cold stress. c. lactic acid being shunted from pooled blood in the extremities. d. vasodilation from the warming process.