A nurse is caring for a client who had a stroke involving the right cerebral hemisphere. The nurse should monitor for which of the following findings?

Choice A reason: Taking this medication when getting an asthma attack is not a correct way to use montelukast. Montelukast is a leukotriene modifier that helps to reduce inflammation and prevent asthma attacks and exercise induced bronchoconstriction. It is taken once a day in oral form and may cause side effects such as stomach pain, diarrhea, or mood changes. It is not a fast acting rescue medicine for asthma attacks and needs to be taken daily.

Choice B reason: Rinsing the mouth after taking this medication is not necessary or helpful for montelukast. Rinsing the mouth is usually recommended for inhaled corticosteroids, which can cause oral thrush, a fungal infection in the mouth. Montelukast is not an inhaled corticosteroid and does not cause oral thrush.

Choice C reason: Taking this medication once a day in the evening is the correct way to use montelukast. Montelukast works best when taken in the evening, as it can improve the symptoms of asthma and allergic rhinitis that occur at night or early in the morning. Taking it at the same time every day can also help to maintain a steady level of the drug in the body and prevent missed doses.

Choice D reason: Using a spacer device when inhaling this medication is not applicable or useful for montelukast. A spacer device is a tube that attaches to an inhaler and helps to deliver the medication more effectively to the lungs. Montelukast is not an inhaler, but a tablet or a granule that is swallowed.

Choice A reason: A stroke involving the right cerebral hemisphere can affect the cognitive and emotional functions of the brain, such as judgment, impulse control, and emotional regulation³. This can lead to risky or inappropriate behaviors, such as acting impulsively or disregarding social norms. Therefore, the nurse should monitor the client for poor impulse control and provide appropriate interventions, such as education, cueing, feedback, and environmental modifications.
Choice B reason: A stroke involving the right cerebral hemisphere can affect the visual functions of the brain, such as depth perception, spatial orientation, and visual recognition³. However, the deficits are usually in the left visual field, not the right, because the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body and the environment. Therefore, the nurse should monitor the client for deficits in the left visual field, not the right.
Choice C reason: A stroke involving the right cerebral hemisphere can affect the abstract reasoning functions of the brain, such as understanding metaphors, humor, or sarcasm. However, the ability to discriminate words and letters is more related to the language functions of the brain, which are mainly controlled by the left cerebral hemisphere. Therefore, the nurse should monitor the client for language deficits, such as aphasia or dysarthria, if the stroke involves the left cerebral hemisphere, not the right.
Choice D reason: A stroke involving the right cerebral hemisphere can affect the motor functions of the brain, such as movement, coordination, and balance³. However, the motor retardation, which is a slowing down of physical and mental activity, is more related to the mood functions of the brain, which are mainly controlled by the frontal lobe of the brain. Therefore, the nurse should monitor the client for motor retardation if the stroke involves the frontal lobe, not the right cerebral hemisphere.