A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who takes lithium carbonate for bipolar disorder. For which of the following findings should the nurse monitor as an adverse effect of lithium carbonate?
Thyroid enlargement
Constipation
Hyporeflexia
Elevated blood pressure
The Correct Answer is A
A. Lithium can cause hypothyroidism and goiter as adverse effects. Therefore, monitoring of thyroid function and physical examination for thyroid enlargement is necessary during lithium therapy.
B. Constipation is not a typical adverse effect of lithium carbonate. It's more commonly associated with side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, or polyuria.
C. Hyporeflexia is not commonly associated with lithium carbonate use. Lithium more commonly affects the central nervous system, leading to symptoms such as tremors, confusion, and seizures in cases of toxicity.
D. Lithium is more commonly associated with the opposite effect, lowering blood pressure rather than elevating it. It's known to have effects on sodium transport in renal tubules, leading to increased water retention and possibly hypotension.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Benztropine, an anticholinergic medication, can cause urinary retention or difficulty with urination as a side effect due to its anticholinergic properties. Clients should be instructed to report any difficulty voiding promptly, as it can lead to complications such as urinary tract infections or bladder distention.
B. Benztropine is not typically associated with diarrhea as an adverse effect.
C. While anticholinergic medications can cause tachycardia (increased heart rate) due to their anticholinergic effects, they are not associated with slow pulse.
D. Benztropine is used to decrease excessive salivation (sialorrhea) rather than causing it as an adverse effect.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Rh incompatibility primarily affects erythrocytes, resulting in hemolysis rather than clotting abnormalities. Therefore, transient clotting difficulties are not typically associated with this condition.
B. Rh incompatibility doesn't directly cause hypothermia in newborns. The condition primarily leads to hemolytic disease of the newborn, which can result in jaundice, anemia, and other complications, but not hypothermia.
C. Rh incompatibility leads to an increase in bilirubin levels, causing hyperbilirubinemia rather than hypobilirubinemia. This increase in bilirubin levels can lead to jaundice and potentially severe neurological complications in the newborn.
D. This is a severe complication of Rh incompatibility where the fetus experiences severe edema due to hemolytic anemia and heart failure. It results from the destruction of fetal red blood cells by maternal antibodies against Rh-positive blood cells.
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