A patient recently prescribed a calcium channel blocker for the treatment of hypertension is experiencing dizziness when rising to a standing position. Which action will the nurse take?
Instruct the patient to monitor weight daily.
Inform the patient to discontinue the medication.
Advise the patient to increase dietary sodium.
Encourage the patient to sit down if feeling faint.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: This is not the action that the nurse should take. Instructing the patient to monitor weight daily is not relevant to the patient's dizziness. Weight monitoring is more useful for patients with fluid retention or heart failure, which are not caused by calcium channel blockers.
Choice B reason: This is not the action that the nurse should take. Informing the patient to discontinue the medication is not appropriate, as this can cause rebound hypertension and other complications. The patient should not stop taking the medication without consulting their health care provider.
Choice C reason: This is not the action that the nurse should take. Advising the patient to increase dietary sodium is not helpful, as this can worsen the hypertension and increase the risk of cardiovascular events. The patient should follow a low-sodium diet and avoid salt substitutes that contain potassium.
Choice D reason: This is the action that the nurse should take. Encouraging the patient to sit down if feeling faint is a simple and effective way to prevent falls and injuries. Dizziness is a common side effect of calcium channel blockers, especially when the patient changes position or stands up quickly. This is due to the orthostatic hypotension (a drop in blood pressure when standing up) caused by the vasodilation effect of the medication. However, this side effect is usually mild and transient, and can be prevented by rising slowly from a sitting or lying position, drinking plenty of fluids, and avoiding alcohol.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Hereditary decrease in IgE responsiveness is not related to airway hyper-responsiveness in extrinsic asthma. IgE is an antibody that binds to allergens and triggers the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators from mast cells. A decrease in IgE responsiveness would reduce the allergic reaction, not increase it.
Choice B reason: Increased sympathetic nervous system response is not related to airway hyper-responsiveness in extrinsic asthma. The sympathetic nervous system is the part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for fight or flight. It stimulates the bronchodilation, or the widening of the airways, by activating the beta2 receptors on the smooth muscle cells. This would improve the airflow, not obstruct it.
Choice C reason: The release of stress hormones is not related to airway hyper-responsiveness in extrinsic asthma. Stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, are secreted by the adrenal glands in response to stress. They have anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator effects, which would reduce the symptoms of asthma, not worsen them.
Choice D reason: Exposure to an allergen causing mast cell degranulation is related to airway hyper-responsiveness in extrinsic asthma. Mast cell degranulation is the process of releasing histamine and other inflammatory mediators from the granules inside the mast cells. These substances cause bronchoconstriction, or the narrowing of the airways, by stimulating the smooth muscle contraction and mucus secretion. This leads to the symptoms of asthma, such as wheezing, coughing, and dyspnea.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: This is not the agent that the nurse should question. Beta blockers are a class of medications that lower the blood pressure and heart rate by blocking the beta receptors in the heart and blood vessels. They can be used to treat hypertension, angina, heart failure, and arrhythmias. They do not cause edema or hyperkalemia.
Choice B reason: This is not the agent that the nurse should question. Alpha 2 agonists are a class of medications that lower the blood pressure by stimulating the alpha 2 receptors in the brain, which reduce the sympathetic nervous system activity. They can be used to treat hypertension, especially in patients with renal impairment. They do not cause edema or hyperkalemia.
Choice C reason: This is not the agent that the nurse should question. Calcium channel blockers are a class of medications that lower the blood pressure and heart rate by blocking the calcium channels in the heart and blood vessels, which cause vasodilation and reduced cardiac contractility. They can be used to treat hypertension, angina, and arrhythmias. They may cause edema, but not hyperkalemia.
Choice D reason: This is the agent that the nurse should question. Aldosterone antagonists are a class of medications that lower the blood pressure and reduce fluid retention by blocking the action of aldosterone, a hormone that regulates the sodium and potassium balance in the body. They can be used to treat hypertension and heart failure, especially in patients with low renin levels. However, they can cause hyperkalemia, which can be dangerous for the patient. The nurse should question the prescriber about the rationale for prescribing this agent and monitor the patient's potassium level closely.
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