After teaching a client with a fractured humerus, the nurse assesses the client’s understanding. Which dietary choice demonstrates that the client correctly understands the nutrition needed to assist in healing the fracture?

Choice A reason: Carbidopa does not allow larger levodopa doses but reduces the dose needed by preventing peripheral breakdown. This increases levodopa’s availability to cross the blood-brain barrier, improving efficacy without increasing side effects like nausea from peripheral dopamine.
Choice B reason: Carbidopa inhibits peripheral dopa decarboxylase, preventing levodopa’s conversion to dopamine outside the brain. This increases levodopa’s central nervous system availability, enhancing dopamine production in the basal ganglia to alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms, making it the primary reason for the combination.
Choice C reason: Drug-food interactions (e.g., protein competing with levodopa absorption) persist with levodopa-carbidopa, as carbidopa does not affect intestinal absorption. This is not the primary reason for the combination, which focuses on peripheral metabolism inhibition.
Choice D reason: Carbidopa is not a dopamine precursor and cannot cross the blood-brain barrier. Levodopa is the precursor, converted to dopamine in the brain. Carbidopa’s role is to block peripheral conversion, not to act as a precursor itself.

Choice A reason: Guiding a child to the floor during a seizure is unsafe, as it risks injury to both the child and nurse due to uncontrolled movements. Leaving to get help abandons the child, increasing injury risk during the seizure’s tonic-clonic phase.
Choice B reason: Moving objects away from a child during a tonic-clonic seizure prevents injury from striking hard surfaces. Generalized seizures cause uncontrolled muscle contractions, increasing the risk of trauma. Ensuring a safe environment is a priority to minimize harm during the seizure event.
Choice C reason: Inserting a tongue blade, even padded, risks dental injury or airway obstruction, as jaw clenching is common in tonic-clonic seizures. Current guidelines advise against placing objects in the mouth, as it does not prevent tongue biting and may cause harm.
Choice D reason: Restraining a child during a seizure can cause fractures or soft tissue injury due to forceful muscle contractions. It also increases stress and hypoxia risk. Allowing the seizure to occur while ensuring safety is the recommended approach to minimize complications.