A nurse is caring for a client who has a ventricular dysrhythmia and a new prescription for amiodarone.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the client's plan of care?
Schedule the client for a hearing screening twice per year.
Remind the client to report an increase in appetite.
Instruct the client to have liver enzyme testing periodically.
Monitor the client for the development of manic behavior.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
Amiodarone is known to cause various adverse effects, but ototoxicity leading to hearing impairment is not a commonly reported or significant side effect. The primary concerns with amiodarone involve pulmonary, thyroid, hepatic, and ocular toxicities. Therefore, routine hearing screenings are not a standard intervention in the care plan for clients on amiodarone.
Choice B rationale
An increase in appetite is not a recognized or common adverse effect associated with amiodarone. Amiodarone can cause gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and anorexia, but an increased appetite is not typically observed. Monitoring for such a symptom would not be a priority in the client's plan of care.
Choice C rationale
Amiodarone is extensively metabolized by the liver and is known to cause hepatotoxicity, ranging from asymptomatic transaminase elevation to severe hepatitis and cirrhosis. Therefore, periodic monitoring of liver enzyme levels (e.g., AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase) is crucial to detect early signs of liver injury and adjust treatment if necessary. Normal AST levels are typically 10-40 U/L, and ALT levels are 7-56 U/L.
Choice D rationale
While some medications can cause psychiatric disturbances, manic behavior is not a commonly reported or characteristic adverse effect of amiodarone. The central nervous system effects of amiodarone are more likely to include peripheral neuropathy, ataxia, and tremors. Monitoring for manic behavior is not a standard intervention for clients on amiodarone therapy.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["3"]
Explanation
Step 1 is: Convert client weight from pounds to kilograms. 165 Ib ÷ 2.2 Ib/kg = 75 kg.
Step 2 is: Calculate the total dose of verapamil needed. 0.1 mg/kg × 75 kg = 7.5 mg.
Step 3 is: Calculate the volume to administer in mL. 7.5 mg ÷ (2.5 mg/mL) = 3 mL. The nurse should administer 3 mL.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Disulfiram is an aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor used in the treatment of chronic alcoholism, causing an unpleasant reaction when alcohol is consumed. It has no pharmacological antagonism to opioids and would not be effective in reversing the effects of hydromorphone toxicity.
Choice B rationale
Epinephrine is a potent vasoconstrictor and bronchodilator, primarily used in anaphylaxis and cardiac arrest. While it stimulates adrenergic receptors, it does not counteract the central nervous system depression caused by opioid toxicity and is not a specific antidote for hydromorphone.
Choice C rationale
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that competitively binds to opioid receptors, displacing opioid agonists like hydromorphone. This action rapidly reverses the central nervous system and respiratory depression characteristic of opioid toxicity, restoring ventilation and consciousness.
Choice D rationale
Flumazenil is a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, used to reverse the effects of benzodiazepine overdose. It has no affinity for opioid receptors and therefore would be ineffective in treating hydromorphone toxicity, which is mediated by opioid receptor activation.
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