A nurse is providing teaching to a client newly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who is prescribed carbidopa/levodopa. What should be included in client teaching?
This is a safe medication that is associated with minimal side effects
Stop the medication if there is increased urination
Change position slowly to prevent orthostatic hypotension
Double the dose if a dose is missed at the next scheduled time
The Correct Answer is C
A. This is a safe medication that is associated with minimal side effects: Carbidopa/levodopa is an effective medication for managing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, but it is not without side effects. Common side effects include nausea, dizziness, dyskinesia (involuntary movements), and orthostatic hypotension. It is important to be honest with clients about the potential side effects and manage them proactively, rather than describing the medication as "safe with minimal side effects," which could lead to underestimating the risks.
B. Stop the medication if there is increased urination: Increased urination is not a common or typical side effect of carbidopa/levodopa. In fact, the medication is more likely to cause urinary retention or difficulty urinating in some cases. The client should not stop taking the medication without consulting their healthcare provider. Any urinary changes should be reported, but abrupt discontinuation of the medication is not advised without medical supervision.
C. Change position slowly to prevent orthostatic hypotension: One of the common side effects of carbidopa/levodopa therapy is orthostatic hypotension, which occurs when a person experiences a drop in blood pressure upon standing up. This can lead to dizziness or fainting, increasing the risk of falls. The client should be educated to change positions slowly, such as sitting up slowly and standing up gradually from a lying position, to minimize the risk of orthostatic hypotension. This is a critical aspect of safety and should be emphasized as part of the teaching.
D. Double the dose if a dose is missed at the next scheduled time: Doubling the dose of carbidopa/levodopa if a dose is missed can lead to an overdose, which may cause serious side effects, including dyskinesias or other complications. Clients should be instructed to take the missed dose as soon as they remember, unless it is almost time for the next dose. In that case, they should skip the missed dose and continue with their regular dosing schedule. It is important to never double the dose without guidance from the healthcare provider.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Tizanidine is a sleep aid and used to promote sleep along with melatonin:
This is incorrect. Tizanidine is not classified as a sleep aid. While muscle relaxants like tizanidine may cause drowsiness as a side effect, its primary purpose is to reduce muscle spasms rather than to promote sleep. Using it in combination with melatonin for sleep would not be appropriate unless specifically prescribed by a healthcare provider.
B. Tizanidine is a muscle relaxant medication used to reduce muscle spasms:
Tizanidine is a centrally acting muscle relaxant that is commonly used to treat muscle spasms and spasticity. In clients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spasticity can be a significant symptom, leading to muscle stiffness and discomfort. Tizanidine helps by relaxing the muscles and alleviating the muscle tightness associated with ALS. It works by inhibiting nerve impulses that cause muscles to contract, thus reducing spasticity and improving mobility. This medication is not intended for sleep promotion or pain relief directly, but rather to manage muscle spasms.
C. Tizanidine is an antibiotic medication used to treat bacterial infections:
This is incorrect. Tizanidine is not an antibiotic and has no role in treating bacterial infections. It is a muscle relaxant used for managing spasticity, not an antimicrobial drug.
D. Tizanidine is an opiate and is used to relieve severe pain:
This is incorrect. Tizanidine is not an opiate and does not belong to the class of opioids. It does not have the pain-relieving effects of opioid analgesics. While it may provide some relief from muscle discomfort, it is not used to treat severe pain in the way opiates like morphine or oxycodone are. Tizanidine’s primary purpose is to address muscle spasticity, not pain management.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Call for the rapid response team and request a portable chest X-ray: While calling for assistance and obtaining a chest X-ray is important for further assessment, the immediate priority is to secure the wound to prevent air from entering the pleural space. This action will help stabilize the patient until the rapid response team arrives and the X-ray can be performed.
B. Turn the suction drainage system off and auscultate breath sounds: Turning off the suction and auscultating breath sounds may be necessary after the wound is secured, but these actions should not take priority over sealing the chest tube site. The focus at this moment is to prevent a tension pneumothorax by sealing the dislodged chest tube site. Auscultation of breath sounds is useful afterward to assess for respiratory complications, but it is not the first action to take.
C. Apply a sterile dressing and tape on three sides: The first action when a chest tube becomes accidentally dislodged is to seal the opening to prevent air from entering the pleural space, which could lead to a pneumothorax (collapsed lung). Applying a sterile dressing and taping it on three sides helps create a temporary one-way valve effect, allowing air to escape from the pleural space but preventing further air from being drawn in. This intervention is crucial to stabilize the patient while awaiting further evaluation and intervention.
D. Notify the healthcare provider immediately: Notifying the healthcare provider is essential, but it is not the first action. The most important initial step is to seal the chest tube site to prevent further complications. After the dressing is applied, the nurse can then notify the healthcare provider and continue to monitor the patient.
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