Two months after beginning drug therapy with alprazolam, a client states, "I feel much better, but I can't believe how dizzy and light-headed I get, and sometimes my mouth feels dry." Which would be the priority response by the nurse?

"You will need to take this medication with food from now on."

"You should avoid dangerous activities because of the side effects you are experiencing."

"The medication is usually prescribed for a short time, and the side effects may go away."

"You can use sugarless gum or candy to relieve some of those symptoms."

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Choice A Reason
Taking alprazolam with food may help with some gastrointestinal side effects but does not address the client's concerns about dizziness and light-headedness. While it is a practical suggestion, it is not the priority response when the client is experiencing symptoms that could affect their safety¹.

Choice B Reason
The priority for the nurse is to ensure the client's safety. Dizziness and light-headedness can increase the risk of falls or accidents, especially when performing tasks that require alertness, such as driving or operating machinery. Therefore, advising the client to avoid dangerous activities is the most immediate and appropriate response¹.

Choice C Reason
While it is true that alprazolam is often prescribed for short-term use and some side effects may diminish over time, this does not provide the client with a solution to their current symptoms. The nurse should address the client's immediate concerns and ensure their safety before discussing the duration of medication use¹.

Choice D Reason
Using sugarless gum or candy can help with dry mouth, which is a common side effect of alprazolam. However, this advice does not address the more serious side effects of dizziness and light-headedness that the client is experiencing. Therefore, it is not the priority response but can be included as additional advice¹.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A Reason:
Asking the client to share the joke may imply that the nurse believes the client is laughing at a joke, which may not be the case. It's important to recognize that uncontrollable laughter can be a symptom of schizophrenia and not necessarily a response to humor.

Choice B Reason:
This response is open-ended and nonjudgmental, inviting the client to explain their behavior without making assumptions. It allows the client to share their experience, which could be related to an internal stimulus such as a hallucination or simply a response they cannot control.

Choice C Reason:
Asking "Why are you laughing?" could be perceived as confrontational or accusatory. It might make the client feel defensive or misunderstood, especially if the laughter is a symptom of their condition and not something they are doing voluntarily.

Choice D Reason:
Saying "I don't think I said anything funny" focuses on the nurse's perspective rather than the client's experience. It could inadvertently dismiss the client's behavior as inappropriate or unjustified, which is not supportive in a therapeutic relationship.

A. Increased blood glucose levels. B. Increased potassium levels. C. Increased white blood cell count. D. Increased ketones in the urine.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason:
Prednisone is a corticosteroid that can cause hyperglycemia, especially in clients with diabetes. The nurse should monitor blood glucose levels because prednisone can increase insulin resistance and hepatic glucose production, leading to elevated blood glucose levels. Normal fasting blood glucose levels range from 70 to 99 mg/dL, and for individuals with diabetes, maintaining blood glucose levels within the target range set by their healthcare provider is crucial to prevent complications.

Choice B reason:
While corticosteroids can affect electrolyte balance, they typically cause a decrease in potassium levels, not an increase. Therefore, monitoring for hypokalemia, rather than hyperkalemia, would be more appropriate when a patient is on prednisone. The normal range for serum potassium is 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L.

Choice C reason:
Corticosteroids like prednisone can cause leukocytosis, an increase in white blood cell count, as part of their immunosuppressive action. However, this is generally not a harmful side effect unless accompanied by infection or other complications. The normal range for white blood cell count is approximately 4,500 to 11,000 cells per microliter.

Choice D reason:
Increased ketones in the urine, or ketonuria, is not a typical side effect of prednisone. Ketonuria is more commonly associated with uncontrolled diabetes, particularly Type 1 diabetes, when there is an insulin deficiency and the body resorts to fat breakdown, leading to ketone production.

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Two months after beginning drug therapy with alprazolam, a client states, "I feel much better, but I can't believe how dizzy and light-headed I get, and sometimes my mouth feels dry." Which would be the priority response by the nurse?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is sitting with a client diagnosed with schizophrenia, who starts to laugh uncontrollably, although the nurse has not said anything funny. The nurse should say:

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A client with Type 2 diabetes, controlled with diet and metformin, also has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). During an exacerbation of COPD, the client is prescribed prednisone to control inflammation. For which side effect should the nurse monitor the client?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The nurse is caring for a client who is two days post-aortic-iliac bypass surgery. Which assessment finding should be reported to the surgeon immediately?

For a client diagnosed with folic acid deficiency anemia who is experiencing activity intolerance, what should the nurse include in the plan of care?

To evaluate the effectiveness of nitroglycerin 0.4 mg SL administered to a client diagnosed with angina pectoris, the nurse should:

The nurse is providing discharge teaching for the client newly diagnosed with Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD). The teaching should include instructions to: (Select all that apply)

A client diagnosed with depression expresses a preference for alternative therapy over prescription medication. Which alternative therapy has been shown to be effective in treating this client's condition?

The nurse is evaluating the teaching of self-monitoring of blood glucose levels in a newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetic client. The nurse identifies a need for additional teaching when the client:

A nurse is assessing a client newly diagnosed with early-onset osteoarthritis. Which manifestation should the nurse expect?

A common sign of hypoglycemia in a client diagnosed with diabetes is: