A nurse is planning to administer medications to an older adult client who has dysphagia. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?
Place the medications on the back of the client's tongue.
Tilt the client's head back when administering the medications.
Administer more than one pill to the client at a time.
Mix the medications with a semisolid food for the client.
The Correct Answer is D
A. Place the medications on the back of the client's tongue:
Incorrect Explanation: Placing medications on the back of the tongue can increase the risk of choking and aspiration, especially in individuals with dysphagia.
Explanation: Individuals with dysphagia have difficulty swallowing and are at an increased risk of choking or aspirating (inhaling) substances into the lungs. Placing medications on the back of the tongue can be unsafe and is not recommended.
B. Tilt the client's head back when administering the medications:
Incorrect Explanation: Tipping the head back can worsen swallowing difficulties and increase the risk of choking or aspiration.
Explanation: Tipping the head back can compromise the natural swallowing mechanism and increase the risk of aspiration. It's important to keep the client's head in an upright position to aid safe swallowing.
C. Administer more than one pill to the client at a time:
Incorrect Explanation: Administering multiple pills at once can increase the risk of choking and aspiration, especially in individuals with dysphagia.
Explanation: Administering multiple pills at once can overwhelm the client's ability to swallow safely. This action can increase the risk of choking and aspiration, which is especially dangerous for individuals with dysphagia.
D. Mix the medications with a semisolid food for the client:
Correct Answer: This action is appropriate and safer for administering medications to an older adult client with dysphagia.
Explanation: Mixing medications with semisolid food, such as applesauce or yogurt, can help the client swallow more easily and reduce the risk of choking or aspiration. It's important to check with the healthcare provider or pharmacist to ensure that the medications can be mixed with food and that there are no interactions.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Bradycardia:
Incorrect Explanation: Bradycardia (slow heart rate) is not a common adverse effect of phenytoin.
Explanation: Phenytoin primarily affects the central nervous system and is not known to cause significant cardiovascular effects like bradycardia.
B. Red man syndrome:
Incorrect Explanation: Red man syndrome is associated with some antibiotics, not phenytoin.
Explanation: Red man syndrome, characterized by redness and flushing of the skin, is primarily associated with certain antibiotics like vancomycin and is not a recognized adverse effect of phenytoin.
C. Hypoglycemia:
Incorrect Explanation: Hypoglycemia is not a common adverse effect of phenytoin.
Explanation: Phenytoin does not have a direct impact on blood glucose levels, so hypoglycemia is not a typical adverse effect.
D. Hypotension:
Correct Answer: Hypotension (low blood pressure) is an adverse effect that the nurse should identify as a potential concern with phenytoin administration.
Explanation: Phenytoin, especially when administered rapidly as an IV bolus, can lead to hypotension as one of its adverse effects. Monitoring blood pressure during and after administration is important.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. BUN 15 mg/dL:
Incorrect Explanation: Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) is not a specific marker for assessing the effectiveness of atorvastatin treatment.
Explanation: BUN is a measure of kidney function and the breakdown of protein in the body. It is not directly related to the cholesterol-lowering effects of atorvastatin.
B. LDL 120 mg/dL.
Explanation:
Atorvastatin is a medication used to lower cholesterol levels, particularly low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is often referred to as "bad" cholesterol. Elevated LDL cholesterol levels are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The goal of using medications like atorvastatin is to reduce LDL cholesterol levels to a target range, as recommended by healthcare guidelines.
A lower LDL cholesterol level indicates that the treatment with atorvastatin has been effective in achieving the desired therapeutic goal of lowering cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of cardiovascular events. Therefore, a decrease in LDL cholesterol is a positive outcome of atorvastatin therapy.
C. Urine specific gravity 1.020:
Incorrect Explanation: Urine-specific gravity is not a marker for assessing the effectiveness of atorvastatin.
Explanation: Urine-specific gravity measures the concentration of urine and is related to hydration status and kidney function. It is not used to evaluate the effectiveness of cholesterol-lowering medications like atorvastatin.
D. Blood glucose 90 mg/dL:
Incorrect Explanation: A blood glucose level of 90 mg/dL is not indicative of the effectiveness of atorvastatin treatment.
Explanation: Blood glucose level measures the amount of sugar in the bloodstream and is unrelated to the cholesterol-lowering effects of atorvastatin.
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