A client with heart failure (HF) develops hyperaldosteronism and spironolactone is prescribed. Which instruction should the nurse include in this patient’s plan of care?
Replace salt with a salt substitute.
Limits intake of high-potassium foods.
Cover your skin before going outside.
Monitor skin for excessive bruising.
The Correct Answer is B
Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that works by blocking the actions of aldosterone, a hormone that can lead to potassium loss in the urine. However, in some cases, spironolactone can cause hyperkalemia (high levels of potassium in the blood), which can be dangerous for patients with heart failure. Therefore, it is important to instruct the patient to limit their intake of high-potassium foods such as bananas, oranges, tomatoes, spinach, and salt substitutes containing potassium.
Option a (Replace salt with a salt substitute) is incorrect because salt substitutes often contain potassium, which can further increase the risk of hyperkalemia.
Option c (Cover your skin before going outside) is unrelated to the use of spironolactone and hyperkalemia.
Option d (Monitor skin for excessive bruising) is not directly related to the use of spironolactone and hyperkalemia, although it is a potential side effect of other medications used to treat heart failure.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Diabetes insipidus is a condition in which the kidneys are unable to conserve water, leading to excessive thirst and urination. It is treated with antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which helps the kidneys retain water and reduce urine output. When caring for a client with diabetes insipidus who is receiving ADH intranasally, it is important for the nurse to monitor the client’s serum osmolality.
Osmolality is a measure of the concentration of particles in a solution and can provide information about the client’s hydration status.
Monitoring serum osmolality can help determine if the ADH therapy is effective in managing the client’s diabetes insipidus.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Terbinafine HCL is primarily metabolized by the liver, and a history of alcoholism may indicate liver dysfunction or damage, which could affect the metabolism and clearance of the drug. The nurse should assess the client's liver function, including liver enzymes, bilirubin levels, and albumin levels, before administering terbinafine HCL.
While options b, c, and d may be important assessment findings, they are not as crucial as a history of alcoholism when it comes to administering terbinafine HCL.
The thick and yellow toenails (option b) are typical symptoms of a fungal toenail infection, which is the reason for prescribing terbinafine HCL.
The white blood cell count (option c) is within normal range.
Being employed as a construction worker (option d) does not have a direct impact on the use of terbinafine HCL.
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