A nurse is preparing to administer loperamide to a client. Which findings on assessment would the nurse documents as an indication of effectiveness?
Nausea is resolved.
Rectal bleeding is reduced.
Diarrhea is resolved.
Temperature returns to normal.
The Correct Answer is C
A. Nausea is resolved: Loperamide is not used to treat nausea; its mechanism targets intestinal motility to reduce diarrhea. Improvement in nausea would more likely be attributed to antiemetics such as ondansetron or metoclopramide, not loperamide.
B. Rectal bleeding is reduced: Loperamide does not directly treat rectal bleeding. If bleeding is present, further evaluation is needed to rule out serious conditions like inflammatory bowel disease or colorectal pathology. It is not a therapeutic target for this medication.
C. Diarrhea is resolved: Loperamide is an antidiarrheal agent that works by slowing peristalsis and increasing absorption of fluids in the intestines. The resolution of diarrhea, such as fewer loose stools and more formed bowel movements, indicates the drug has been effective.
D. Temperature returns to normal: While fever may accompany infections that cause diarrhea, a return to normal temperature is not a direct effect of loperamide. Antipyretics or treating the underlying infection are more closely associated with temperature regulation.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. a lack of dyspepsia: While symptom relief is important, the primary therapeutic goal of the omeprazole and amoxicillin regimen is eradication of H. pylori. Dyspepsia can resolve temporarily with acid suppression alone and does not confirm that the underlying infection has been treated.
B. no gastroesophageal reflux: Omeprazole may help reduce reflux symptoms due to its acid-suppressing effects, but this is not a primary indicator of treatment success in peptic ulcer disease caused by H. pylori.
C. increased appetite and absence of nausea: Improved appetite and reduced nausea may occur as symptoms resolve, but they are nonspecific. These signs do not definitively confirm that H. pylori, the causative agent of many ulcers, has been successfully eradicated.
D. absence of Helicobacter pylori: The purpose of combining omeprazole (a proton pump inhibitor) with amoxicillin (an antibiotic) is to eliminate H. pylori. Confirming its absence through follow-up testing (e.g., urea breath test, stool antigen test) is the most reliable measure of therapeutic success.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. acute pain: While postoperative vomiting can cause discomfort, antiemetics are not typically associated with pain relief or pain-related side effects. The primary concern with antiemetic use is not acute pain but safety due to sedation or altered mentation.
B. risk for injury: Many antiemetics, such as promethazine or metoclopramide, can cause drowsiness, dizziness, or impaired coordination due to their CNS effects. These side effects increase the client's fall risk, especially in postoperative or debilitated patients, making injury prevention a priority.
C. decreased cardiac output: Decreased cardiac output is not a common direct effect of antiemetics. Unless the client has other cardiovascular conditions, antiemetics do not significantly impact cardiac function.
D. functional urinary incontinence: CNS effects of antiemetics do not usually impair the ability to void or access a toilet. Functional incontinence is more often related to physical limitations or environmental barriers, rather than side effects of nausea medication.
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