A client is admitted to the intensive care unit with diabetes insipidus due to a pituitary gland tumor.

Which potential complication should the nurse monitor closely?

The correct answer isChoice D.

Choice A rationale:

Hypertension is not a contraindication for administering clonidine. In fact, clonidine is often used to treat hypertension.It works by decreasing the levels of certain chemicals in your blood, allowing your blood vessels to relax and your heart to beat more slowly and easily.

Choice B rationale:

An apical heart rate of 72 beats/minute is within the normal range (60-100 beats/minute) and would not be a contraindication for administering clonidine.Clonidine can lower heart rate, so it’s important to monitor heart rate, but a normal heart rate does not preclude its use.

Choice C rationale:

Muscle weakness is not a specific contraindication for the use of clonidine. While muscle weakness can be a side effect of many medications, it is not typically associated with clonidine.However, if a patient was experiencing severe or unusual muscle weakness, it would be important for the healthcare provider to evaluate this symptom.

Choice D rationale:

A blood pressure of 90/76 mm Hg could be a contraindication for the use of clonidine. Clonidine is a medication that is used to lower blood pressure, and if a patient’s blood pressure is already low, further lowering it could lead to symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, or even shock.Therefore, it would be important to monitor the patient’s blood pressure closely while they are taking this medication.

Choice A rationale:

Procuring platelet products from the blood bank is a task that should be performed by a licensed nurse, not an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). It involves assessing the client's needs, verifying orders, and administering the product, which require nursing judgment and skills.

Choice B rationale:

Titrating oxygen to prescribed parameters is a nursing task that requires clinical judgment, especially if the client's condition changes. UAPs do not have the training or scope of practice to adjust oxygen levels. This task should be assigned to a licensed nurse.

Choice D rationale:

Inserting a urinary catheter, even for an uncomplicated client, is a task that should be performed by a licensed nurse. It involves the potential risk of infection and injury, and it requires sterile technique and assessment of the client's condition. UAPs do not have the training or scope of practice to insert urinary catheters.