A nurse is preparing to administer Ringer’s lactate via continuous IV infusion at a rate of 120 mL/hr. The manual IV tubing’s drop factor is 60 gtt/mL. How many gtt/min should the nurse set the manual IV infusion to deliver?

(Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

Choice A rationale

Phosphate levels are not directly affected by spironolactone. Spironolactone is a potassium- sparing diuretic and does not typically affect phosphate levels.

Choice B rationale

Decreased potassium level is not typically expected in a patient taking spironolactone. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, meaning it can actually lead to increased potassium levels. However, in the context of liver failure and ascites, other factors may influence potassium levels.

Choice C rationale

Chloride levels are not directly affected by spironolactone. Spironolactone primarily affects the balance of potassium and sodium in the body.

Choice D rationale

Sodium levels could potentially be decreased in a patient taking spironolactone, as it can cause the body to lose sodium. However, in the context of liver failure and ascites, sodium levels are often carefully managed.

Choice A rationale

Orlistat works by inhibiting the absorption of dietary fats in the body, which are then excreted in the stool. One of the side effects of this process can be changes in bowel habits, including an increase in the frequency of bowel movements and an oily discharge. Dark urine can be a sign of liver damage, which is a rare but serious side effect of orlistat. Therefore, if a patient notices their urine getting darker in color while taking orlistat, they should stop taking the medication and call their doctor immediately.

Choice B rationale

Orlistat should be taken with a meal that contains fat, not necessarily before breakfast. If a meal is missed or contains no fat, the dose of orlistat should be skipped.

Choice C rationale

Orlistat does not directly affect hunger signals or the feeling of fullness. It works in the digestive system to block about one-third of the fat in the food you eat from being digested.

Choice D rationale

While it’s important to maintain a balanced, reduced-calorie diet while taking orlistat, a no-fat diet is not recommended. Orlistat works by blocking the absorption of some of the fat from meals. If a meal contains no fat, there is no fat for orlistat to block.