The patient with Alzheimer's disease has been on donepezil (Aricept) for several weeks. The nurse suspects an overdose when the patient:
a. eats hungrily at each meal and looks for snacks between meals.
b. exhibits a consistent heart rate of 80 beats/min.
c. has an elevation in blood pressure after each exercise period.
d. is unable to grasp a glass tightly enough to prevent dropping it.
D
Inability to grasp the glass indicates muscle weakness, a cardinal indicator of overdose of Aricept. Other overdose signs are hypotension, nausea and vomiting, and bradycardia. Appetite changes are not consistent with the use of this medication.
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Which of the following medications might be given to a client with Alzheimer's disease to delay the rate of cognitive decline?
1. Donepezil (Aricept) 2. Quetiapine (Seroquel) 3. Valproic acid (Depakote) 4. Escitalopram (Lexapro)
The nurse is caring for a 5-year-old girl posttonsillectomy. The girl looks out the window and tells the nurse that it is raining and says, "The sky is crying because it is sad that my throat hurts
" The nurse understands that the girl is demonstrating which mental process? A) Magical thinking B) Centration C) Transduction D) Animism
A patient will be undergoing abdominal computed tomography (CT) with contrast. The nurse has administered IV sodium bicarbonate and oral acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) before the study as ordered
What would indicate that these medications have had the desired therapeutic effect? A) The patient's BUN and creatinine levels are within reference range following the CT. B) The CT yields high-quality images. C) The patient's electrolytes are stable in the 48 hours following the CT. D) The patient's intake and output are in balance on the day after the CT.
After delivery, the vital signs should be checked routinely
A. every 5 minutes for 4 hours, then hourly. B. hourly for 8 hours, then every 8 hours. C. as ordered until stable, then every 4 hours. D. every 15 minutes until stable, then every shift.