A patient who has recently begun taking captopril (Capoten) to treat HTN calls a clinic to report a persistent cough.
The nurse will perform which action?
Reassure the client that this is nothing to worry about and will diminish over time.
Tell the patient to stop taking the drug immediately as this is a serious side effect of the drug.
Schedule an appointment with the provider to discuss changing to an ARB.
Instruct the patient to go to the emergency room immediately as this is a hypersensitivity reaction.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
Reassuring the client without addressing the persistent cough would not be appropriate as it may signal a need for a different medication. The ACE inhibitor captopril can cause a bothersome, persistent cough in some patients due to increased bradykinin levels.
Choice B rationale
Instructing the patient to stop the medication immediately is not advised without consulting the healthcare provider. While the cough is a known side effect, stopping the medication abruptly may lead to unmanaged hypertension.
Choice C rationale
Scheduling an appointment with the provider to discuss changing to an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) is appropriate. ARBs do not typically cause a persistent cough, making them a suitable alternative for patients who experience this side effect with ACE inhibitors.
Choice D rationale
Instructing the patient to go to the emergency room immediately is unnecessary as the persistent cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors and not an emergency situation. Emergency action is warranted for symptoms of angioedema, such as swelling of the face or throat.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Glycopyrrolate is an anticholinergic medication that reduces secretions in the mouth, throat, and airways but is not typically used for bronchospasm associated with COPD.
Choice B rationale
Ipratropium is an anticholinergic bronchodilator that is commonly used to treat bronchospasm associated with COPD. It works by relaxing the muscles around the airways to improve breathing.
Choice C rationale
Atropine is an anticholinergic medication used to treat bradycardia and reduce secretions but is not indicated for bronchospasm associated with COPD.
Choice D rationale
Flavoxate is a urinary antispasmodic used to relieve symptoms of bladder spasms but has no role in the treatment of bronchospasm associated with COPD.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Improved mental status can be a sign of better overall health but is not a specific indicator of improved heart failure status.
Choice B rationale
Using fewer pillows at night indicates reduced orthopnea, a common symptom of heart failure, suggesting that the patient’s heart failure status has improved.
Choice C rationale
Increased skin turgor indicates improved hydration status but is not a specific measure of heart failure improvement.
Choice D rationale
Heart rate regularity is important but does not directly indicate improved heart failure status.
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