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
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
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["1.2"]
Explanation
- Step 1: Identify the child's weight in pounds. The child weighs 33 lbs.
- Step 2: Convert the child's weight from pounds to kilograms. We know that 1 kg = 2.2 lbs. So, 33 lbs = 33 ÷ 2.2 kg. Calculating the division gives us approximately 15 kg.
- Step 3: Identify the prescribed dose in mcg/kg/day. The child is scheduled to receive 8 mcg/kg/day of digoxin, divided equally every 12 hours.
- Step 4: Calculate the total daily dose in mcg. We can do this by multiplying the child's weight in kg by the prescribed dose in mcg/kg:
- Total daily dose = 8 mcg/kg/day × 15 kg.
- Calculating the multiplication gives us: Total daily dose = 120 mcg/day.
- Step 5: Since the dose is divided equally every 12 hours, we divide the total daily dose by 2 to get the dose per administration:
- Dose per administration = Total daily dose ÷ 2.
- Dose per administration = 120 mcg ÷ 2.
- Calculating the division gives us: Dose per administration = 60 mcg.
- Step 6: Identify the concentration of the available solution. The available solution contains 0.05 mg/mL of digoxin. Convert this to mcg/mL for consistency with the dose per administration. We know that 1 mg = 1000 mcg. So, 0.05 mg = 0.05 × 1000 mcg = 50 mcg/mL.
- Step 7: Calculate the volume of solution needed to deliver the required dose. We can set up a proportion to solve for this:
- 50 mcg is to 1 mL as 60 mcg is to X mL.
- In other words, 50 mcg : 1 mL = 60 mcg : X mL.
- Step 8: Solve for X using cross-multiplication and division:
- Cross-multiplication gives us: 50 mcg × X mL = 60 mcg × 1 mL.
- Simplifying this gives us: 50X = 60.
- Dividing both sides by 50 gives us: X = 60 ÷ 50.
- Calculating the division gives us: X = 1.2.
Administer 1.2 mL of the digoxin elixir per dose.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason:Shaking the bag is not recommended as it may not adequately mix the solution and could cause emulsion instability.
Choice B reason:Administering the bag as is could be harmful due to the risk of fat embolism or other complications from an unstable emulsion.
Choice C reason:Returning the bag to the pharmacy is the appropriate action to ensure the client receives a properly mixed and safe emulsion.
Choice D reason:Turning the bag upside down one time is not sufficient to mix the emulsion and does not address the potential instability of the solution.
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