A patient is prescribed furosemide. Which intervention should the nurse prioritize to monitor and prevent potential complications associated with this medication?
Administering additional sodium supplements
Monitoring serum potassium levels regularly
Encouraging increased fluid intake
Assess for episodes of hypertension
The Correct Answer is B
A. Administering additional sodium supplements: Furosemide increases sodium excretion in the urine. Adding sodium supplements would counteract the diuretic effect and may worsen fluid retention or blood pressure control.
B. Monitoring serum potassium levels regularly: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes potassium loss through the kidneys. Hypokalemia can lead to muscle weakness and dangerous cardiac dysrhythmias. Regular potassium monitoring is essential to detect and prevent this complication.
C. Encouraging increased fluid intake: Excessive fluid intake may reduce the effectiveness of diuresis and worsen edema or heart failure symptoms. Fluid intake should be guided by the patient’s clinical condition, not routinely increased.
D. Assess for episodes of hypertension: Furosemide lowers blood pressure rather than causing hypertension. The nurse should monitor for hypotension instead, making this option less relevant to preventing medication-related complications.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Tell the client to take glipizide right before bedtime to avoid hypoglycemia symptoms during the day:Taking glipizide at bedtime increases the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia, which can be dangerous if the client is asleep and unaware of low blood glucose symptoms. Timing should be coordinated with meals to prevent hypoglycemia.
B. Encourage the client to take the medication with water even if skipping meals to maintain consistent dosing:Taking glipizide without eating can trigger hypoglycemia. Consistent dosing is important, but safety requires aligning administration with food intake. Skipping meals while taking glipizide is unsafe.
C. Instruct the client to double the next dose to compensate for the missed meal and prevent hyperglycemia:Doubling the next dose can result in severe hypoglycemia. Glipizide should never be doubled to compensate for a missed meal. Dose adjustments must be guided by a healthcare provider.
D. Advise the client to take his medication thirty minutes before a meal to reduce the incidence of hypoglycemia:Taking glipizide 30 minutes before a meal allows the medication to stimulate insulin release in coordination with food intake. This timing helps prevent hypoglycemia while maximizing the drug’s glucose-lowering effect, ensuring safe and effective therapy.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Open the medication’s packaging and place it in the patient’s hand: This step occurs after verifying the patient and ensuring the correct medication. Administering before identification risks giving the wrong drug to the wrong patient.
B. Verify the patient’s name and date of birth with their wristband: Patient identification is the first and most critical step in medication administration. Confirming identity ensures the “right patient” safety principle is met before any other action.
C. Assess the patient’s oxygenation saturation: While assessing baseline status may be relevant for certain medications, cyclobenzaprine’s priority safety concern is patient identification, as it is primarily a sedating muscle relaxant.
D. Document administration of the medication: Documentation occurs after administering the drug, not before. Premature documentation would violate safe medication administration practices.
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