A client with a history of heart failure is prescribed furosemide. Which assessment finding indicates the medication is effective?
Increased urine output
Elevated blood pressure
Increased heart rate
Weight gain
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason: Furosemide, a loop diuretic, promotes urine output by inhibiting sodium reabsorption in the kidneys, reducing fluid overload in heart failure. Increased urine output indicates effective diuresis, alleviating pulmonary and peripheral edema, making it the primary sign of therapeutic efficacy.
Choice B reason: Elevated blood pressure is not an expected effect of furosemide, which reduces preload and blood volume, often lowering pressure. Effective diuresis is shown by increased urine output, as this directly reflects fluid removal, critical for heart failure management.
Choice C reason: Increased heart rate is not a direct indicator of furosemide efficacy. Diuresis reduces cardiac workload, potentially stabilizing heart rate, but urine output is the primary measure, as it confirms fluid excretion, the medication’s main action in heart failure.
Choice D reason: Weight gain indicates fluid retention, the opposite of furosemide’s goal. Effective diuresis causes weight loss due to fluid excretion. Increased urine output is the key sign, as it directly measures the diuretic’s action in reducing heart failure-related fluid overload.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Difficulty with urination is not a primary concern for pyridostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor used in myasthenia gravis to enhance neuromuscular transmission. While cholinergic side effects may include urinary urgency, this is not a pre-administration priority compared to oral intake, which affects absorption and efficacy.
Choice B reason: Recent oral intake is critical before administering pyridostigmine, as food can delay its absorption, reducing effectiveness in myasthenia gravis. Taking it 30–60 minutes before or 2 hours after meals ensures optimal plasma levels, improving muscle strength, making this the priority information to obtain.
Choice C reason: Trouble sleeping is not directly relevant to pyridostigmine administration. While cholinergic side effects like diarrhea may disrupt sleep, this is a secondary concern. Ensuring proper timing with oral intake is critical for therapeutic efficacy, as absorption impacts symptom control in myasthenia gravis.
Choice D reason: Unexplained weight loss may indicate myasthenia gravis progression or other issues but is not a pre-administration concern for pyridostigmine. Timing with oral intake directly affects the drug’s pharmacokinetics, ensuring effective muscle strength improvement, making weight loss less urgent to assess before dosing.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Consistent salt intake is critical for lithium, as sodium levels affect lithium excretion. Low sodium increases lithium toxicity, causing tremors or confusion. Maintaining stable sodium intake ensures therapeutic levels, making this the priority teaching point for safe lithium therapy.
Choice B reason: Avoiding high-fiber foods is irrelevant to lithium therapy. Fiber affects gastrointestinal health but not lithium pharmacokinetics. Consistent salt intake is essential, as sodium fluctuations alter lithium clearance, risking toxicity, making dietary sodium the priority teaching focus.
Choice C reason: Increasing caffeine is inappropriate, as it may exacerbate bipolar symptoms and increase lithium excretion, risking subtherapeutic levels. Consistent salt intake stabilizes lithium levels, preventing toxicity or inefficacy, making it the critical teaching point for effective bipolar management.
Choice D reason: Limiting physical exercise is unnecessary for lithium therapy. Exercise supports mental health in bipolar disorder but does not directly affect lithium levels. Consistent salt intake is the priority, as sodium balance ensures safe and effective lithium therapy.
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