After taking orlistat for one week, a female patient tells the home health nurse that she is experiencing increasingly frequent oily stools and gas.
What action should the nurse take?

Choice A rationale

Risedronate is a type of medication known as a bisphosphonate, which is used to treat and prevent osteoporosis. It works by slowing bone loss to help maintain strong bones and reduce the risk of fractures. It’s important to take risedronate correctly to ensure it works effectively. One key instruction is that it should be taken with a full glass of plain water, at least 30 minutes before any food, beverage, or other medicines. This is because food and beverages can decrease the amount of risedronate absorbed by the body. Therefore, the nurse should instruct the client that it is necessary to take nothing but water with the medication.

Choice B rationale

Withholding the medication until the client’s breakfast tray is available on the unit would not be the best action. This is because risedronate needs to be taken as soon as you get out of bed in the morning and at least 30 minutes before any food, beverage, or other medicines. Waiting for the breakfast tray could delay the administration of the medication and potentially decrease its effectiveness.

Choice C rationale

Consulting with a pharmacist about scheduling the dose one hour after the client eats is not the best action. As mentioned earlier, risedronate should be taken at least 30 minutes before any food, beverage, or other medicines. Taking it after eating could decrease the amount of medication that is absorbed by the body, reducing its effectiveness.

Choice D rationale

Assigning an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to bring the client a glass of low-fat milk is not the correct action. This is because risedronate should be taken with a full glass of plain water, not milk. In fact, taking risedronate with milk could decrease the amount of medication that is absorbed by the body.

Choice A rationale

Tamsulosin is an alpha-blocker that relaxes the smooth muscles of the prostate and bladder neck, improving urine flow. However, it can also cause hypotension, dizziness, and fainting as adverse effects. Therefore, monitoring blood pressure is essential for clients taking tamsulosin.

Choice B rationale

While assessing the client’s urine output is an important part of monitoring a client with benign prostatic hyperplasia, it is not specifically related to monitoring for adverse reactions to tamsulosin.

Choice C rationale

Performing a bladder scan can be useful in assessing the client’s urinary retention, a common symptom of benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, it is not specifically related to monitoring for adverse reactions to tamsulosin.

Choice D rationale

Obtaining the client’s daily weights can be useful in monitoring fluid balance, but it is not specifically related to monitoring for adverse reactions to tamsulosin.