The healthcare provider prescribes lactulose for a patient with hepatic encephalopathy. What will the nurse assess to determine the effectiveness of this medication?

Decreased ammonia levels

Relief of constipation

Decreased liver enzymes

Relief of abdominal pain

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A reason:Lactulose is used in hepatic encephalopathy primarily to lower blood ammonia levels. It works by converting ammonia in the intestines into ammonium, which is then excreted³. Therefore, a decrease in ammonia levels would indicate the effectiveness of the medication.

Choice B reason:While lactulose can relieve constipation due to its laxative effect, relief of constipation is not the primary indicator of its effectiveness in treating hepatic encephalopathy³.

Choice C reason:Decreased liver enzymes are not a direct measure of lactulose's effectiveness in hepatic encephalopathy. Liver enzymes are indicators of liver function, not ammonia levels³.

Choice D reason:Relief of abdominal pain is not a specific indicator of lactulose's effectiveness in hepatic encephalopathy. The medication's primary role is to reduce ammonia levels, not to alleviate pain³.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is ["167"]

Explanation

- Step 1: Identify the client's weight in pounds. The client weighs 245 lbs.

- Step 2: Convert the client's weight from pounds to kilograms. We know that 1 kg = 2.2 lbs. So, 245 lbs = 245 ÷ 2.2 kg. Calculating the division gives us approximately 111.36 kg.

- Step 3: Identify the prescribed dose in mg/kg. The client is scheduled to receive 1.5 mg/kg of enoxaparin.

- Step 4: Calculate the total dose in mg. We can do this by multiplying the client's weight in kg by the prescribed dose in mg/kg:

- Total dose = 1.5 mg/kg × 111.36 kg.

- Calculating the multiplication gives us approximately 167.04 mg.

- Step 5: Round the total dose to the nearest whole number. Rounding 167.04 gives us 167.

administer 167 mg of enoxaparin per dose.

A. Instruct the client to lean forward. B. Ask the client to extend the arms. C. Dorsiflex the client's foot. D. Measure the abdominal girth.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A: Instruct the client to lean forward This action is not related to the assessment of asterixis. Leaning forward can be part of the physical examination for other conditions, such as assessing for spinal issues or abdominal pain, but it does not provoke the characteristic flapping motion of the hands seen in asterixis.

Choice B: Ask the client to extend the arms This is the correct method to assess for asterixis. The patient is asked to extend their arms and dorsiflex their wrists. The nurse then observes for any involuntary flapping movements of the hands, which would indicate the presence of asterixis. This sign is indicative of a disturbance in the central nervous system’s regulation of muscle tone, often due to metabolic liver dysfunction. To assess for asterixis, the nurse should ask the client to extend their arms, which is the standard method for eliciting this sign. The presence of asterixis can help in the diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy and other metabolic conditions affecting the brain’s control of muscle tone.

Choice C: Dorsiflex the client’s foot Dorsiflexion of the foot is not a method used to assess for asterixis. While changes in muscle tone can be assessed in the lower limbs, asterixis is specifically a hand tremor and is best observed in the upper extremities.

Choice D: Measure the abdominal girth Measuring abdominal girth is relevant in the assessment of ascites, which can occur in cirrhosis, but it is not a method for assessing asterixis. Ascites refers to the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, leading to increased abdominal size, which is a common complication of cirrhosis.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

The healthcare provider prescribes lactulose for a patient with hepatic encephalopathy. What will the nurse assess to determine the effectiveness of this medication?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Correct Answer is ["167"]

Explanation

The nurse is reviewing the record of a client with a diagnosis of cirrhosis and notes that there is documentation of the presence of asterixis. How should the nurse assess for asterixis?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A nurse is preparing to administer a 2 mg IV bolus of morphine sulfate. Morphine sulfate is available in a concentration of 10 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who took three nitroglycerin tablets sublingually for chest pain. The client reports relief from the chest pain but now is experiencing a headache. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

A nurse is monitoring an older adult female client who had a myocardial infarction (MI) for the development of an acute kidney injury (AKI). Which of the following findings indicate an increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)?

The nurse is monitoring a client who just finished a meal for vasomotor manifestations of dumping syndrome. Which of the following findings indicate this occurrence?

A client presents with a possible bowel obstruction, and the nurse completes a detailed abdominal assessment. Which of the following clinical manifestations are consistent with a large bowel obstruction? (Select all that apply).

A nurse is assessing a client who has right-sided heart failure. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?