The nurse prepares to administer a 1,000 mg loading dose of phenytoin IV to a client with a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Which consideration is most important when administering this dose?
Dilantin should be mixed in dextrose in water before administration.
Dilantin should be administered through an IV catheter in the client's hand.
Rapid Dilantin administration can cause cardiac dysrhythmias.
Therapeutic drug levels should be maintained between 20 to 30 mg/mL.
The Correct Answer is C
Administering phenytoin requires applying knowledge of intravenous drug compatibility and cardiovascular safety profiles. The nurse must prioritize monitoring for life-threatening complications associated with rapid infusion, specifically focusing on the drug's narrow therapeutic index and its significant irritant properties.
Choice A rationale
Phenytoin is highly unstable and will precipitate if mixed with dextrose solutions. It must only be diluted with 0.9 percent sodium chloride. Incorrect dilution can lead to crystalline emboli and loss of drug efficacy during administration.
Choice B rationale
Intravenous phenytoin is a known vesicant that can cause purple glove syndrome if administered into small peripheral veins like those in the hand. Use of a large-bore catheter in a large vein or central line is preferred.
Choice C rationale
Rapid infusion of phenytoin can lead to severe cardiovascular collapse, including hypotension and fatal dysrhythmias. The infusion rate should not exceed 50 mg per minute to allow the heart to tolerate the drug's membrane-stabilizing effects safely.
Choice D rationale
The standard therapeutic range for phenytoin is 10 to 20 mcg per mL, not 20 to 30 mg per mL. Levels exceeding 20 mcg per mL often result in toxicity, characterized by nystagmus, ataxia, and decreased mental status.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Understanding skin grafting techniques is essential for postoperative burn care. Knowledge of autograft processing, specifically meshing, is required to explain how small donor skin samples are expanded to cover large wound areas while allowing for fluid drainage during healing.
Choice A rationale
While edema occurs during burn healing, the lattice pattern is a mechanical result of graft preparation rather than tissue stretching from fluid seepage. Tissue expansion occurs naturally but does not create a systematic, geometric mesh-like appearance.
Choice B rationale
Bulky dressings protect the graft site and maintain moist environments but do not cause permanent indentations in the skin. The lattice structure is a deliberate surgical modification of the donor tissue before it is applied.
Choice C rationale
Allografts are temporary covers from donors, but the lattice appearance is not caused by freezing. Meshing can be done on various graft types, but it is a physical process, not a byproduct of cryopreservation techniques.
Choice D rationale
Meshing an autograft involves cutting the skin in a geometric pattern to allow expansion. This allows a donor site to cover a larger recipient area and provides openings for exudate to escape, preventing graft displacement by fluid.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Management of nephrotic syndrome involves using ACE inhibitors for their antiproteinuric and renoprotective effects. One must understand the therapeutic goals of lisinopril in renal disease and the necessity of medication adherence and safety monitoring to provide accurate education.
Choice A rationale
Stopping lisinopril abruptly is dangerous and requires medical supervision. Patients must understand that swelling fluctuations should be reported to the provider rather than used as a reason to self-discontinue a critical medication for renal health.
Choice B rationale
Lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor, reduces the glomerular basement membrane permeability and lowers the pressure within the glomeruli. This action effectively decreases the amount of protein that leaks into the urine, which is a hallmark of syndrome.
Choice C rationale
By reducing intraglomerular pressure and decreasing proteinuria, ACE inhibitors help slow the progression of chronic kidney disease. This protective mechanism is vital for patients with nephrotic syndrome to preserve long-term renal function and prevent scarring.
Choice D rationale
Hypertension is a common complication and contributing factor in nephrotic syndrome. Lisinopril manages systemic blood pressure by inhibiting the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, which prevents vasoconstriction and lowers the overall vascular resistance..
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