A client diagnosed with Illness Anxiety Disorder is prescribed clonazepam for underlying anxiety. Of the following, which is of utmost importance when caring for this client?
Administer the medication with food.
Administer the medication to the client at night to avoid daytime sedation.
Encourage the client to avoid drinking alcohol when taking this medication.
Assess for history of smoking.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A Reason:
Administer the medication with food.
Administering clonazepam with food can help reduce gastrointestinal discomfort, but it is not the most critical consideration. While it is beneficial to minimize potential side effects like nausea, it does not address the primary safety concerns associated with clonazepam use.
Choice B Reason:
Administer the medication to the client at night to avoid daytime sedation.
Administering clonazepam at night can help avoid daytime sedation, which is a common side effect of benzodiazepines. However, this is not the most critical safety concern. While managing sedation is important, it does not address the potential for more serious interactions and risks.
Choice C Reason:
Encourage the client to avoid drinking alcohol when taking this medication.
This is the correct response. Alcohol can significantly increase the sedative effects of clonazepam, leading to dangerous levels of sedation, respiratory depression, and even death. It is crucial to educate clients about the risks of combining alcohol with benzodiazepines to prevent potentially life-threatening interactions.
Choice D Reason:
Assess for history of smoking.
While assessing for a history of smoking is part of a comprehensive health assessment, it is not the most critical consideration when administering clonazepam. Smoking does not have the same immediate and severe interaction risks with clonazepam as alcohol does.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
While this response attempts to offer support, it makes an assumption about the mother’s understanding without addressing the client’s feelings directly. Therapeutic communication should focus on validating the client’s emotions and encouraging them to express their thoughts and feelings. This response might not fully acknowledge the client’s distress.
Choice B Reason:
This response normalizes the client’s feelings, which can be helpful, but it does not directly address the client’s specific concern. While it is important to reassure the client that their feelings are common, the response should also validate their individual experience and encourage further discussion.
Choice C Reason:
Encouraging the client to talk to their mother is a proactive suggestion, but it may not be the most therapeutic initial response. The client might not be ready to take that step, and the nurse should first focus on understanding and validating the client’s feelings before suggesting actions. This response could be more appropriate as a follow-up after the client’s feelings have been explored.
Choice D Reason:
This response is the most therapeutic because it uses reflective listening to validate the client’s feelings. By restating what the client has expressed, the nurse shows empathy and encourages the client to explore their emotions further. This technique helps the client feel heard and understood, which is crucial in therapeutic communication.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Confirming boundaries by setting limits on behavior.
This response is correct because it directly addresses the need to set clear boundaries with the client. In a psychiatric setting, it is crucial to establish and maintain professional boundaries to ensure a therapeutic environment. By limiting the client’s approach to the nurse’s station, the nurse is setting a clear boundary that helps manage the client’s behavior and ensures that the nurse can attend to other patients as well. This intervention helps in maintaining structure and predictability, which can be very beneficial for clients with psychiatric conditions.
Choice B Reason:
Providing reality orientation.
Providing reality orientation involves helping clients understand their surroundings and current situation, often used for clients with cognitive impairments or disorientation. While important, this intervention does not specifically address the behavior of frequently approaching the nurse’s station. Reality orientation would be more relevant in cases where the client is confused about time, place, or person.
Choice C Reason:
Providing client education in a direct manner.
Providing client education is essential, but it does not directly relate to setting behavioral limits. Education might involve explaining the reasons behind certain rules or treatments, but it does not address the immediate need to manage the client’s frequent requests. The intervention described in the question is more about behavior management than education.
Choice D Reason:
Ensuring physical need fulfillment.
Ensuring physical need fulfillment involves addressing the client’s basic needs such as food, hydration, and comfort. While this is a fundamental aspect of nursing care, it does not relate to setting behavioral limits or managing the frequency of the client’s requests. The intervention in the question is focused on managing behavior rather than fulfilling physical needs.
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