The practical nurse (PN) administers a skeletal muscle relaxant to a client with left leg pain. Which assessment provides data related to the effectiveness of the medication?
Range of motion
Capillary refill
Dependent edema
Skin temperature
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason: Range of motion assesses muscle relaxant effectiveness, as these drugs, like cyclobenzaprine, reduce muscle spasms by acting on the central nervous system, relieving pain and improving mobility. Increased leg movement indicates reduced spasm and pain, directly reflecting the drug’s therapeutic action.
Choice B reason: Capillary refill evaluates perfusion, not muscle relaxation. Muscle relaxants target spasms, not vascular status. While pain may indirectly affect circulation, capillary refill does not measure the drug’s primary effect on muscle function, making this choice irrelevant.
Choice C reason: Dependent edema reflects fluid status, not muscle relaxant efficacy. These drugs reduce muscle tension, not swelling. Edema is unrelated to leg pain from spasms, and muscle relaxants do not affect fluid dynamics, making this choice inappropriate for assessment.
Choice D reason: Skin temperature may indicate inflammation or circulation but is not specific to muscle relaxant effects. These drugs alleviate spasms, improving mobility, not temperature. Range of motion directly measures spasm relief, making this choice less relevant for evaluating the medication’s impact.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Famotidine, an H2 receptor blocker, reduces gastric acid production, alleviating epigastric pain caused by acid-related conditions like gastritis or ulcers. Decreased pain indicates the drug’s effectiveness in lowering acid levels, protecting the gastric mucosa, and promoting healing, making this the primary clinical outcome.
Choice B reason: Weight loss of 3 pounds is not a direct indicator of famotidine’s effectiveness. It may result from unrelated factors like diet or illness. Famotidine targets acid reduction, not weight, so this finding is irrelevant to assessing the drug’s therapeutic impact on gastric conditions.
Choice C reason: Decreased nighttime awakenings may occur with reduced pain but are not a specific measure of famotidine’s effectiveness. Awakenings could relate to other factors, like sleep disorders. Pain reduction is a more direct indicator of the drug’s action on acid-related symptoms.
Choice D reason: A positive stool antigen test indicates Helicobacter pylori infection, not famotidine’s effectiveness. Famotidine reduces acid but does not eradicate H. pylori, which requires antibiotics. This finding is unrelated to the drug’s primary role in acid suppression and symptom relief.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Family history of hypertension is relevant for cardiovascular risk but less critical than smoking for estrogen therapy. Estrogens increase blood pressure slightly, but smoking directly amplifies thromboembolism risk, a major contraindication, making this choice secondary for immediate safety assessment.
Choice B reason: Soft lens use may cause discomfort with estrogens due to corneal changes, but this is a minor side effect. Thromboembolism risk, heightened by smoking, is far more severe, requiring priority assessment, as lens issues do not pose life-threatening risks.
Choice C reason: Sunlight exposure is unrelated to conjugated estrogens, which do not cause photosensitivity. Hormone therapy affects clotting and cardiovascular risk, not skin reactions to UV light, making this choice irrelevant for assessing safety before initiating estrogen treatment.
Choice D reason: Cigarette smoking history is critical, as smoking increases thromboembolism risk with conjugated estrogens, which promote clotting by altering coagulation factors. This risk is especially high in women over 35, necessitating smoking cessation or alternative therapies to prevent potentially fatal complications.
Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.
Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today
Report Wrong Answer on the Current Question
Do you disagree with the answer? If yes, what is your expected answer? Explain.
Kindly be descriptive with the issue you are facing.