The nurse is caring for a 64-year-old male client with diabetes who is being treated with a nonselective beta-blocker. What health education should the nurse prioritize with this client?
The benefit to eating frequent small meals during the day
Perform more frequent blood glucose checks due to effects of the drug
The need to weight himself once per week at the same time of the day
The correct method for taking their own apical pulse
The Correct Answer is A
A. The benefit to eating frequent small meals during the day: Nonselective beta-blockers can mask symptoms of hypoglycemia, making it harder for patients with diabetes to recognize low
blood sugar levels. Eating frequent small meals can help stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia.
B. Perform more frequent blood glucose checks due to effects of the drug: While it's important for patients with diabetes to monitor their blood glucose levels regularly, this instruction doesn't directly address the potential masking of hypoglycemia symptoms by beta-blockers.
C. The need to weight himself once per week at the same time of the day: Weight monitoring is important for overall health management but is not specifically related to the use of nonselective beta-blockers in diabetes management.
D. The correct method for taking their own apical pulse: Knowing how to take one's own apical pulse is important for some individuals, but it's not directly related to the management of
diabetes with nonselective beta-blockers.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Assessing the WBC count is not directly related to the administration of a nonselective adrenergic blocker. These medications primarily affect the cardiovascular system.
B. Assessing pulse and blood pressure is crucial before administering a nonselective adrenergic blocker. These medications can cause bradycardia and hypotension as side effects, so it's
important to ensure the client's baseline pulse and blood pressure are within acceptable ranges before giving the medication.
C. Assessing bowel sounds is not directly related to the administration of a nonselective adrenergic blocker. These medications primarily affect the cardiovascular system.
D. Assessing serum sodium and potassium levels is not directly related to the administration of a nonselective adrenergic blocker. These medications primarily affect the cardiovascular system.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. The drug level is at a toxic level, and the dosage needs to be reduced. Phenytoin has a narrow therapeutic range, and levels above 20 mcg/mL are considered to be in the toxic range.
Symptoms of phenytoin toxicity can include nystagmus, ataxia, slurred speech, and confusion. Therefore, if a patient's phenytoin level is 23 mcg/mL, the nurse should be concerned about potential toxicity and consult with the healthcare provider to adjust the dosage.
B. The patient's seizures should be under control if she is also taking a second antiepileptic drug.
While combination therapy with multiple antiepileptic drugs can help control seizures, a phenytoin level of 23 mcg/mL is still concerning for toxicity and requires intervention.
C. The patient is at risk for seizures because the drug level is not at a therapeutic level. A phenytoin level of 23 mcg/mL is actually above the therapeutic range and is more indicative of toxicity rather than subtherapeutic levels.
D. The patient's seizures should be under control because this is a therapeutic drug level. A phenytoin level of 23 mcg/mL is not within the therapeutic range but rather in the toxic range, so the patient may experience symptoms of toxicity rather than having adequate seizure control.
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