A nurse is monitoring a client who has bipolar disorder and is exhibiting manifestations of mania.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply.).

Dysrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm that can be a sign of severe lithium toxicity.

Lithium toxicity can occur when a person takes too much lithium, a mood- stabilizing medication used to treat bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.

Choice A is wrong because hypoglycemia is not a symptom of lithium toxicity. Hypoglycemia is low blood sugar that can cause symptoms such as shakiness, sweating, hunger, and confusion.

Choice B is wrong because excess salivation is not a symptom of lithium toxicity. Excess salivation can be caused by various factors, such as infections, medications, or nerve damage.

Choice C is wrong because urinary retention is not a symptom of lithium toxicity. Urinary retention is the inability to empty the bladder completely, which can cause pain, discomfort, and infection. Lithium toxicity can actually cause increased urine output, not decreased.

Normal ranges for blood lithium levels are 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L for maintenance therapy and 0.8 to 1.5 mEq/L for acute therapy. Levels above 1.5 mEq/L can cause mild to moderate toxicity, and levels above 2.0 mEq/L can cause severe toxicity. Levels above 3.0 mEq/L are considered a medical emergency.

Encourage the client to visit with someone who has had an amputation.

This strategy can help the client cope with the loss of a body part and learn from the experience of others who have gone through a similar situation.

Choice A is wrong because suggesting that the client wear facility clothing until the prosthesis fitting can delay the client’s acceptance of the body image alteration and increase the risk of infection.

Choice C is wrong because discouraging the client from touching the residual limb for the first week can interfere with the healing process and prevent the client from becoming familiar with the new body part.

Choice D is wrong because reassuring the client that the rehabilitation program is optional can discourage the client from participating in physical therapy and hinder the recovery and adaptation.