After administering furosemide 20 mg PO to a client diagnosed with hypertension and peripheral edema, which finding would best indicate that the therapeutic effect of the medication has been achieved?
Blood pressure remains stable at 130/86 mmHg.
Lungs are clear to auscultation.
Serum potassium has decreased from 4.0 to 3.5 mEq/L.
Urine output increases from 30 mL per hour to 100 mL per hour.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A Reason
While maintaining a stable blood pressure is important for a client with hypertension, furosemide is primarily a diuretic, and its therapeutic effect is to reduce fluid overload, not directly to stabilize blood pressure. Therefore, this finding alone does not best indicate the therapeutic effect of furosemide.
Choice B Reason
Clear lungs upon auscultation suggest an improvement in pulmonary edema, which can be associated with fluid overload in conditions such as heart failure. However, for a client with peripheral edema, the primary therapeutic goal of furosemide is to reduce the excess fluid in the extremities, not just the lungs.
Choice C Reason
A decrease in serum potassium is a known side effect of furosemide due to its action on the kidneys, leading to increased excretion of potassium. While it's important to monitor for hypokalemia, a decrease in potassium does not directly indicate the therapeutic effect of reducing edema.
Choice D Reason
An increase in urine output from 30 mL per hour to 100 mL per hour is a direct indication that furosemide is achieving its therapeutic effect. Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases urine production to help the body eliminate excess fluid, thereby reducing edema associated with conditions like hypertension.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Bright lighting can be overwhelming for clients experiencing perceptual alterations. While regular checks on the client's mental status are important, excessive brightness can exacerbate sensory overload. The goal is to create an environment that is calming and reduces sensory stimuli to manageable levels.
Choice B Reason:
Keeping the lights dim may help to soothe some clients, but continuous noise from a radio can contribute to sensory overload. It's crucial to tailor the environment to the individual needs of the client, which often means providing a quiet space with minimal auditory distractions.
Choice C Reason:
Having the client sit by the nurse's desk may provide necessary supervision, but it can also expose the client to high levels of activity and noise, which can be disorienting. Rest periods with the television on can be distracting and may not offer the tranquil environment needed for a client with perceptual alterations.
Choice D Reason:
Providing a well-lit room without glare or shadows and limiting noise is the most appropriate environmental change for a client with perceptual alterations. This approach helps to reduce the risk of misperceptions and hallucinations, which can be triggered by shadows and glare. A quiet and well-lit environment supports better sensory processing and helps to maintain orientation.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Using accessory muscles while breathing is a sign of respiratory distress and indicates that the client is working harder to breathe. This is not a desired outcome of treatment and suggests that the asthma exacerbation is not under control.
Choice B Reason:
The ability to answer questions in full sentences suggests that the client's airway is not severely obstructed, which is a positive sign of effective asthma treatment. When asthma is well-controlled, individuals should not experience significant shortness of breath that limits their ability to speak.
Choice C Reason:
Diminished breath sounds can be a sign of severe airway obstruction and are not indicative of effective asthma treatment. Ideally, lung auscultation should reveal clear breath sounds without wheezing, indicating good air movement throughout the lungs.
Choice D Reason:
Restlessness and anxiety can be symptoms of hypoxia, a condition where the body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply. This is not a sign of effective asthma treatment and may indicate that the client's asthma is not well-managed.
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