The patient has been prescribed Synthroid 400 mcg pills to be taken orally. The pills supplied are 0.4 mg each.
How many pills should be administered?

Choice A rationale:

Inaccurate statement: While herbal supplements are derived from plant materials, this does not inherently guarantee their safety or non-toxicity. Some plants contain potent compounds that can have adverse effects, even in small doses.

Lack of regulation: Herbal supplements are not regulated by the FDA in the same way as prescription medications. This means that there is no guarantee of their purity, potency, or consistency.

Potential for interactions: Herbal supplements can interact with prescription medications, potentially leading to harmful side effects.

Choice B rationale:

Cost-related issue: The cost of herbal supplements can vary widely. While some may be less expensive than prescription medications, others can be quite costly.

Misleading focus: Emphasizing cost as a primary factor could lead patients to prioritize affordability over safety and effectiveness.

Choice C rationale:

Addresses quality concerns: This response directly addresses the lack of stringent quality standards for herbal supplements, highlighting a significant safety concern.

Encourages informed decision-making: This response encourages patients to carefully consider the potential risks and benefits of herbal supplements, prompting them to seek reliable information and discuss their choices with healthcare providers.

Choice D rationale:

Convenience vs. safety: While the convenience of herbal supplements may be appealing, this response does not address the potential safety concerns associated with their use.

Potential for misuse: Highlighting convenience could lead to patients using herbal supplements inappropriately or without necessary guidance from healthcare professionals.

Rationale for Choice A:

While maintaining normal body temperature is important for overall health, it's not the most immediate priority in a patient with fluid volume deficit due to ongoing bleeding. Fluid volume status takes precedence over temperature regulation in this context.

Hypovolemia can lead to hypothermia, but addressing the fluid deficit directly will also help stabilize temperature.

Focusing solely on temperature could delay crucial interventions to address the fluid loss and potentially worsen the patient's condition.

Rationale for Choice B:

An intact surgical incision is essential for proper wound healing and prevention of infection. However, in the context of active bleeding, it's not the priority outcome.

Maintaining adequate fluid volume is crucial to ensure perfusion of tissues, delivery of oxygen and nutrients, and proper organ function—all of which take precedence over incision integrity in this acute situation.

Addressing the fluid deficit will indirectly support wound healing by promoting tissue perfusion and reducing the risk of complications.

Rationale for Choice C:

Patient education is important, but it's not the most immediate priority in a patient with active bleeding and fluid volume deficit.

The patient's ability to comprehend and implement measures to reduce fluid loss may be compromised due to the hypovolemic state and potential cognitive effects.

Focusing on patient education at this stage could delay essential interventions to address the fluid loss and potentially worsen the patient's condition.

Rationale for Choice D:

Urine output is a sensitive and reliable indicator of renal perfusion and overall fluid status. In a patient with fluid volume deficit, maintaining a urine output of at least 30 mL/hour is a key indicator that the kidneys are receiving adequate blood flow and that fluid volume is being restored.

This outcome directly addresses the fluid deficit and serves as a measurable goal for fluid replacement therapy.

It takes priority over other choices because it directly reflects the patient's fluid status and the effectiveness of interventions to address the bleeding and fluid loss.