The nurse is preparing an adolescent for discharge after a cardiac catheterization. Which statement by the adolescent would indicate the need for further teaching?

The correct answer is choice A: Avoiding use for more than 3 days.

Choice A rationale:

Recommending avoiding the use of decongestant nose drops for more than 3 days is crucial due to the risk of rebound congestion. Decongestant nose drops work by constricting blood vessels in the nasal passages to alleviate congestion. Prolonged use can lead to a phenomenon known as rebound congestion, where the nasal passages become more congested once the medication wears off, causing the person to use the drops more frequently. This can result in a cycle of worsening congestion and overuse of the medication, which can be counterproductive and harmful. Limiting the use of decongestant nose drops to 3 days helps prevent this rebound effect and encourages the use of alternative treatments if congestion persists.

Choice B rationale:

Administering drops until nasal congestion subsides is not the recommended approach. Prolonged use of decongestant nose drops can lead to rebound congestion, as mentioned earlier. Using the drops until congestion subsides might extend their use beyond the safe period and increase the risk of adverse effects.

Choice C rationale:

Keeping drops to use again for nasal congestion is not advised. While it's important to follow the medication's storage instructions, relying on decongestant nose drops for recurring nasal congestion can lead to overuse and rebound congestion. This choice does not address the potential risks associated with prolonged use.

Choice D rationale:

Administering drops after feedings and at bedtime is not a standard recommendation for decongestant nose drops. The timing of administration is not a primary concern in the context of decongestant use. Instead, the focus should be on the duration of use and the potential for rebound congestion.

The correct answer is choice C. Decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.

Choice A rationale:

Anemia does not primarily result in a depressed hematopoietic system. In fact, anemia often occurs due to various factors that affect red blood cell production or lifespan. The hematopoietic system can be overactive in response to anemia, attempting to compensate for the reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

Choice B rationale:

While some anemias may involve the presence of abnormal hemoglobin (e.g., sickle cell anemia), this is not the primary result of anemia. The primary consequence of anemia is a decreased ability of the blood to carry oxygen to the body's tissues.

Choice C rationale:

The correct choice. Anemia leads to a decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen, is reduced in quantity or function in various types of anemia. This results in inadequate oxygen delivery to tissues, potentially causing symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, pallor, and shortness of breath.

Choice D rationale:

Increased blood viscosity is not a primary result of anemia. Anemia tends to reduce blood viscosity because there are fewer red blood cells and less hemoglobin present, which makes the blood more fluid and less viscous. Increased blood viscosity is more commonly associated with conditions like polycythemia, where there is an excess of red blood cells.