A nurse is caring for a client who has hypertension and has been taking hydrochlorothiazide. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse evaluate?
Serum electrolyte levels
Thyroid levels
Coagulation studies
Complete blood count
The Correct Answer is A
A. Hydrochlorothiazide can cause electrolyte imbalances, particularly hypokalemia (low potassium levels), hyponatremia (low sodium levels), and hypomagnesemia (low magnesium levels). Monitoring serum electrolyte levels, including potassium, sodium, and magnesium, is essential to detect and manage any abnormalities that may occur as a result of hydrochlorothiazide therapy.
B. Thyroid levels are not typically affected by hydrochlorothiazide therapy. Therefore, monitoring thyroid levels is not necessary in clients taking hydrochlorothiazide for hypertension.
C. Hydrochlorothiazide is not known to affect coagulation studies such as prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), or international normalized ratio (INR).
D. Hydrochlorothiazide is not typically associated with significant hematologic effects that would necessitate routine monitoring of the complete blood count. Therefore, monitoring CBC is not routinely indicated for clients taking hydrochlorothiazide for hypertension.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Discarding excess medication with a witness is necessary as the medication cannot be saved or reused.
B. Morphine is a controlled substance, and administering a partial dose and saving the rest for later use may lead to potential errors, diversion, or contamination of the remaining medication.
C. While excess medication should be disposed of properly, it is not necessary to dispose of the entire in the sharp’s container. Only the container itself should go to the sharp’s container.
D. The nurse should not administer the full prescribed dose of morphine from the prefilled syringe as that is an overdose as it can lead to respiratory depression.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
D. Before administering any medication, the nurse should positively identify the client using at least two unique identifiers (e.g., name, date of birth, medical record number). Positive identification helps prevent medication errors and ensures that the medication is administered to the intended recipient.
A. Validating the prescription with the available medication is an important step to ensure that the correct medication is being administered. However, before doing so, it's essential to confirm the identity of the client and the correct time for administration.
B. Calculating the correct amount of medication is necessary to ensure that the client receives the appropriate dose. However, before performing this calculation, it's essential to confirm the identity of the client and the correct time for administration.
C. Documenting the time of medication administration is important for maintaining an accurate record of the client's medication administration history. However, before documenting, it's crucial to confirm the identity of the client and the correct time for administration.
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