A client calls the clinic and asks the nurse if using oxymetazoline nasal spray would be all right to relieve nasal congestion caused by seasonal allergies. What instructions should the nurse provide to the client to avoid complications?
Do not overuse the medication as rebound congestion can occur.
Report white patches in the mouth because the medication can cause a fungal infection.
Taper the dose when discontinuing the medication.
Do not operate machinery or drive while using the medication.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Do not overuse the medication as rebound congestion can occur: Oxymetazoline is a topical nasal decongestant that can cause rebound congestion (rhinitis medicamentosa) if used for more than 3 consecutive days. The nasal passages become more congested once the medication wears off, leading to a cycle of dependency.
B. Report white patches in the mouth because the medication can cause a fungal infection: This instruction is more appropriate for inhaled corticosteroids, which can lead to oral thrush. Oxymetazoline does not carry a significant risk for oral fungal infections.
C. Taper the dose when discontinuing the medication: Tapering is generally used for systemic corticosteroids or certain long-term medications. Oxymetazoline should be stopped after short-term use rather than tapered, to prevent rebound symptoms.
D. Do not operate machinery or drive while using the medication: Oxymetazoline typically causes minimal systemic effects and is unlikely to impair mental alertness or motor function. It does not carry significant sedative properties.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","B","C","E"]
Explanation
A. Listen to music: Music therapy is a well-established technique to promote relaxation and lower stress levels. It can help shift focus away from anxious thoughts and create a calming environment.
B. Take a cool shower or bath: A cool shower provides sensory stimulation that can ground the individual and redirect anxious energy. This strategy can help soothe the nervous system and reduce arousal.
C. Progressively tighten muscles: Progressive muscle relaxation involves tensing and relaxing muscle groups to relieve physical tension. It is effective in reducing anxiety by promoting body awareness and calm.
D. Use rapid respirations: Rapid breathing worsens anxiety symptoms and may lead to hyperventilation. Controlled, deep breathing is preferred as it activates the parasympathetic nervous system and calms the body.
E. Visualize a relaxing place: Guided imagery or visualization helps transport the mind to a peaceful setting, which reduces stress and promotes mental relaxation. It is often used in cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety.
F. Smoke a cigarette: Nicotine is a stimulant and while some individuals may feel a temporary sense of relaxation, smoking introduces harmful substances and reinforces maladaptive coping. It also increases cardiovascular strain, which can worsen anxiety symptoms over time.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. The client has pneumonia in the bases: Crackles in the lung bases can suggest pneumonia; however, this finding alone does not confirm a diagnosis. Diagnosis requires clinical correlation with imaging findings such as consolidation or opacities and possibly labs. The physical deformity of the chest (sternal depression) is unrelated to the presence of pneumonia.
B. The client has chronic respiratory disease: While dyspnea and crackles may be seen in chronic respiratory diseases like COPD, the inspection finding of a depressed sternum is not characteristic of these conditions. An illness occurring for two days is also acute and cannot be termed chronic. Documenting a structural deformity based on inspection is more accurate than assuming a chronic disease.
C. The client has a funnel chest: Funnel chest, or pectus excavatum, is a deformity marked by a sunken appearance of the sternum, often more noticeable on inspiration. This is an accurate inspection-based finding that the nurse should document, separate from the respiratory symptoms.
D. The client needs a cough suppressant: A cough suppressant is a potential treatment option for symptomatic relief, but this does not relate to the inspection finding. The nurse’s role at this point is assessment and documentation, not treatment decisions based solely on visual inspection.
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