A client who is being treated with lithium carbonate for bipolar disorder type I begins to develop diarrhea, vomiting, and drowsiness. Which action should the registered nurse take?
Select one:
Hold the medication and refuse to administer additional doses for 3 days.
Notify the health care provider immediately and give 4 liters of fluids.
Prior to giving the next dose, notify the health care provider of these symptoms and hold the next dose until new orders from provider.
Document the client's symptoms and continue with medication as prescribed.
The Correct Answer is C
Diarrhea, vomiting, and drowsiness are potential signs of lithium toxicity, which can be a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. If a client who is being treated with lithium carbonate develops these symptoms, the nurse should notify the health care provider immediately and hold the next dose of medication until new orders are received from the provider.
Option a. Hold the medication and refuse to administer additional doses for 3 days is not an appropriate action because it does not involve notifying the health care provider or obtaining new orders.
Option b. Notify the health care provider immediately and give 4 liters of fluids is not an appropriate action because it involves administering fluids without obtaining orders from the health care provider.
Option d. Document the client’s symptoms and continue with medication as prescribed is not an appropriate action because it does not involve notifying the health care provider or holding the next dose of medication.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Autonomy is the ethical principle that upholds an individual's right to self-determination and decision- making regarding their own life and treatment. In this case, the unit manager's policy of allowing clients to make their own choice about whether or not to attend group therapy preserves the principle of autonomy.
By not mandating group therapy, the unit manager respects the clients' right to make decisions about their own treatment and encourages them to participate in a way that feels comfortable and aligned with their own goals and values. This promotes a sense of empowerment and self-efficacy in clients, which is important for their overall recovery and well-being.
While beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice are also important ethical principles in healthcare, they are not directly applicable to this particular situation.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The child is striving for independence.” The behaviors described by the parent are typical for a child who is 26 months old. At this age, children are beginning to develop a sense of autonomy and independence, and they may resist direction and assert their own will. Toilet training can also be a challenging process for both children and parents, and it is not uncommon for children to resist or refuse toilet training at first.
Option a. “The child needs more control. You have been weak” is not a helpful response because it places blame on the parent and does not provide any useful information or guidance.
Option b. “Some undesirable attitudes are developing currently. A child psychologist can help you develop a remedial plan” may be an appropriate response if the child’s behaviors were significantly outside the norm for their age or if they were causing significant distress or disruption. However, based on the information provided by the parent, this does not appear to be the case.
Option d. “There may be developmental problems. Most children are toilet trained by age 2 years and a half” is not a helpful response because it may cause unnecessary worry or concern for the parent. While many children are toilet trained by age 2 and a half, there is a wide range of normal variation in when children achieve this milestone.
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