A nurse is reviewing the laboratory values of a client who is taking atorvastatin. Which of the following laboratory values indicates the treatment has been effective?

A. Place the medications on the back of the client's tongue:
Incorrect Explanation: Placing medications on the back of the tongue can increase the risk of choking and aspiration, especially in individuals with dysphagia.
Explanation: Individuals with dysphagia have difficulty swallowing and are at an increased risk of choking or aspirating (inhaling) substances into the lungs. Placing medications on the back of the tongue can be unsafe and is not recommended.
B. Tilt the client's head back when administering the medications:
Incorrect Explanation: Tipping the head back can worsen swallowing difficulties and increase the risk of choking or aspiration.
Explanation: Tipping the head back can compromise the natural swallowing mechanism and increase the risk of aspiration. It's important to keep the client's head in an upright position to aid safe swallowing.
C. Administer more than one pill to the client at a time:
Incorrect Explanation: Administering multiple pills at once can increase the risk of choking and aspiration, especially in individuals with dysphagia.
Explanation: Administering multiple pills at once can overwhelm the client's ability to swallow safely. This action can increase the risk of choking and aspiration, which is especially dangerous for individuals with dysphagia.
D. Mix the medications with a semisolid food for the client:
Correct Answer: This action is appropriate and safer for administering medications to an older adult client with dysphagia.
Explanation: Mixing medications with semisolid food, such as applesauce or yogurt, can help the client swallow more easily and reduce the risk of choking or aspiration. It's important to check with the healthcare provider or pharmacist to ensure that the medications can be mixed with food and that there are no interactions.

A. Increased blood pressure:
An elevated aPTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) suggests that the client is receiving heparin therapy. Heparin is an anticoagulant that prevents blood clotting. It's not likely to cause a significant increase in blood pressure directly. Changes in blood pressure may occur due to other factors, but they are not directly related to heparin therapy.
B. Decreased temperature:
Heparin administration does not typically have a direct effect on body temperature. Changes in body temperature might be due to other factors such as infection, but they are not a primary consideration when assessing the effects of heparin therapy.
C. Decreased respiratory rate:
Heparin administration is not known to directly affect respiratory rate. Changes in respiratory rate could be related to respiratory conditions, pain, or other factors unrelated to heparin therapy.
D. Increased pulse rate:
This is the correct choice. Heparin is known to affect the clotting process by inhibiting clot formation. An extended aPTT of 90 seconds indicates that the client's blood is taking longer to form clots than the normal range. This could lead to concerns about potential bleeding complications. Increased pulse rate could be an early sign of bleeding or decreased perfusion, as the body may attempt to compensate for reduced blood volume due to prolonged clotting times.