A nurse is teaching a client who has bipolar disorder about lithium. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
He will monitor your lithium levels closely while you are taking this medication."
This medication is addictive, so you will need to discontinue it in six months."
"Weight gain should be reported to your provider as an indication of lithium toxicity."
"Your provider may prescribe a diuretic if you have trouble urinating while taking lithium."
The Correct Answer is A
Lithium is a commonly used medication for treating bipolar disorder, and therapeutic drug monitoring is crucial to ensure its effectiveness and prevent potential toxicity. Monitoring the client's lithium levels in the blood is important because lithium has a narrow therapeutic range, meaning that levels that are too low might not provide the desired therapeutic effect, while levels that are too high can lead to toxicity.
B) "This medication is addictive, so you will need to discontinue it in six months."
Lithium is not considered addictive. It's important to provide accurate information about the nature of the medication to avoid unnecessary concerns.
C) "Weight gain should be reported to your provider as an indication of lithium toxicity."
While weight gain can be a side effect of some medications, it's not a specific indicator of lithium toxicity. Lithium toxicity is characterized by a range of symptoms including tremors, confusion, nausea, vomiting, and excessive thirst, among others.
D) "Your provider may prescribe a diuretic if you have trouble urinating while taking lithium."
Diuretics are generally not recommended with lithium because they can increase the risk of lithium toxicity. Lithium can affect kidney function, and using diuretics may exacerbate this effect. The client should be advised not to use diuretics without consulting their healthcare provider.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Brief Patient Health Questionnaire (Brief PHQ):
The Brief PHQ is a screening tool used to assess symptoms of depression. While it may be relevant to assess mood and emotional well-being, it is not specific to evaluating cognitive functioning or cognitive disorders.
B. Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale (AIMS):
The AIMS is used to assess involuntary movements, particularly in individuals taking antipsychotic medications. It is not directly related to assessing cognitive disorders.
C,. Mental status examination (MSE)
Explanation:
When admitting an older adult client with a suspected cognitive disorder, including a mental status examination (MSE) as part of the assessment is crucial. The MSE is a structured assessment of a client's current cognitive functioning, emotional state, and thought processes. It helps to evaluate memory, attention, language, perception, orientation, mood, and other cognitive and emotional domains.
D. Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS):
The SANS is used to assess negative symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia. It focuses on features such as affective blunting, alogia, anhedonia, and other negative symptoms. While it may provide important information about a client's mental state, it is not primarily used to assess cognitive disorders.
Assessing cognitive function is a key component when evaluating older adult clients for cognitive disorders such as dementia or other cognitive impairments. The MSE provides valuable information to guide diagnosis and treatment planning for these conditions.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. The partner has placed locks at the top of the doors leading to the outside:
Explanation: Placing locks at the top of doors leading outside is a safety measure to prevent the person with Alzheimer's disease from wandering or getting lost. While this does show that the partner is taking proactive steps to ensure the client's safety, it is not necessarily indicative of caregiver role strain.
B. The partner has hired a house cleaner:
Explanation: Hiring a house cleaner can be a sign of caregiver role strain. Caregivers often become overwhelmed with the responsibilities of caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease, and hiring help for household tasks can be an indication that they are finding it challenging to manage everything on their own.
C. The partner has lost 20 lb in the past 2 months:
Explanation: Rapid weight loss can be a sign of caregiver stress or burnout. The emotional and physical demands of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease can lead to neglect of one's own well-being, including proper nutrition and self-care.
D. The partner redirects the client when the client is frustrated:
Explanation: While redirecting the client when they're frustrated shows that the partner is using appropriate strategies to manage challenging behaviors associated with Alzheimer's disease, this observation doesn't necessarily indicate caregiver role strain.
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