A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is prescribed levothyroxine for a thyroid disorder. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?
Expect to discontinue the medication after 1 month.
Take the medication with an aluminum-containing antacid.
Administer the medication 1 hr before breakfast.
Notify the provider if resting pulse is less than 80/min.
The Correct Answer is C
A. Expect to discontinue the medication after 1 month: Levothyroxine therapy is lifelong for most clients with hypothyroidism because it replaces a hormone the body can no longer produce adequately. Stopping it after a month would lead to the return of symptoms and metabolic slowing, making this statement inaccurate for proper teaching.
B. Take the medication with an aluminum-containing antacid: Aluminum antacids interfere with levothyroxine absorption by binding the medication in the gastrointestinal tract. Taking them together can significantly reduce therapeutic effectiveness, so clients are advised to separate them by several hours.
C. Administer the medication 1 hr before breakfast: Levothyroxine is best absorbed on an empty stomach, and giving it one hour before breakfast maximizes consistent absorption. Food can impair absorption, so this timing helps maintain stable thyroid hormone levels and supports effective symptom control.
D. Notify the provider if resting pulse is less than 80/min: A resting pulse below 80 is not a cause for concern and does not indicate toxicity or dosing problems. Elevated pulse, palpitations, or symptoms of hyperthyroidism would be more relevant signs of excessive dosing and should prompt provider notification.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Poor judgment: Poor judgment is more commonly associated with right-hemisphere strokes due to impaired insight and spatial-perceptual deficits. It is less typical in clients with left-hemisphere strokes.
B. Left-sided weakness: Left-sided weakness results from right-hemisphere strokes because each hemisphere controls motor function on the opposite side of the body. A left-hemisphere stroke usually affects the right side.
C. Aphasia: The left hemisphere typically controls language, including speech and comprehension. A stroke in this area can result in expressive, receptive, or global aphasia, which is a hallmark finding in left-hemisphere strokes.
D. Impulsiveness: Impulsivity is more commonly seen in right-hemisphere strokes due to poor judgment, lack of awareness of deficits, and spatial-perceptual difficulties. It is not a primary characteristic of left-hemisphere strokes.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Provide the client with ice chips: The client is on NPO status in preparation for surgery. Offering ice chips could increase the risk of aspiration or delay surgical procedures, so this action is not appropriate at this time.
B. Discontinue nasogastric tube: The NG tube is necessary to decompress the stomach and relieve nausea from the small-bowel obstruction. Removing it before surgery or resolution of obstruction could worsen vomiting and distention, so discontinuation is not indicated.
C. Reinforce preoperative teaching: Preoperative teaching helps reduce anxiety, improve cooperation, and prepare the client for what to expect during and after the exploratory laparotomy. This action is appropriate and supports client safety and understanding.
D. Start the prescribed antibiotic: The prescription for Cefazolin is 2 g IV and is ordered "on call for surgery." This means the antibiotic should be administered just before the surgical procedure begins, to ensure therapeutic levels are present in the bloodstream when the incision is made.
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