A nurse is caring for a client who reports that they have been eliminating specific foods from their diet in order to “eat clean.” The nurse should identify that this is an indication of which of the following conditions?

 

The correct answer is d. Restrict your child’s intake of caffeine while she is taking this medication.

Choice A Reason:

This statement is incorrect. Methylphenidate does not typically increase saliva production. In fact, it is more commonly associated with dry mouth as a side effect. Therefore, informing parents that the medication might increase saliva production would be misleading and not based on the known side effects of the drug.

Choice B Reason:

This statement is incorrect. Methylphenidate should generally be administered in the morning or early afternoon to avoid insomnia, as it is a stimulant and can interfere with sleep if taken too late in the day. Administering the medication at bedtime would likely cause sleep disturbances, which is counterproductive for managing ADHD symptoms.

Choice C Reason:

This statement is incorrect. Methylphenidate is more commonly associated with weight loss rather than weight gain. The medication can suppress appetite, leading to reduced food intake and potential weight loss. Therefore, it is important to monitor the child’s weight and nutritional intake while on the medication, but weight gain is not a typical concern.

Choice D Reason:

This statement is correct. Caffeine is a stimulant and can exacerbate the side effects of methylphenidate, such as increased heart rate, jitteriness, and anxiety. Therefore, it is advisable to restrict the child’s intake of caffeine while taking this medication to avoid these potential interactions and side effects. This includes limiting consumption of caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, and certain sodas.

Choice A Reason:

Strong negative feelings interfere with assessment and judgment.

This statement is the most accurate explanation for why a nurse needs to be aware of their own feelings while working with a family experiencing domestic violence. Negative emotions such as anger, frustration, or sadness can cloud a nurse’s judgment and hinder their ability to objectively assess the situation. These feelings can lead to biased decision-making, which may compromise the quality of care provided to the victim. For instance, a nurse who feels anger towards the abuser might unconsciously project these feelings onto the victim, affecting their ability to offer unbiased support and intervention. Therefore, maintaining emotional awareness is crucial for ensuring accurate assessments and effective interventions.

Choice B Reason:

Awareness protects one’s own mental health.

While it is true that being aware of one’s feelings can help protect a nurse’s mental health, this statement does not directly address the impact of these feelings on the assessment and judgment process. Emotional awareness is important for self-care and preventing burnout, but the primary rationale for emotional awareness in the context of domestic violence is to ensure that the nurse can provide objective and effective care. Therefore, this choice is not as relevant to the specific question as choice A.

Choice C Reason:

Positive feelings promote the development of sympathy for clients.

Positive feelings such as empathy and compassion are important in nursing, but they can also lead to over-identification with the client, which may result in blurred professional boundaries. While sympathy can foster a supportive relationship, it is essential for nurses to maintain a balance between empathy and professional detachment to provide objective care. This statement does not fully capture the importance of emotional awareness in preventing negative feelings from interfering with assessment and judgment.

Choice D Reason:

Strong positive feelings lead to underinvolvement with the victim.

This statement is less accurate because strong positive feelings, such as empathy and compassion, are more likely to lead to over-involvement rather than underinvolvement. Over-involvement can result in blurred boundaries and difficulty maintaining professional objectivity. However, the primary concern in the context of domestic violence is the interference of negative feelings with assessment and judgment, making this choice less relevant to the question.