What instruction for oral administration of methotrexate should the nurse include when teaching a client diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis?
Use an antiemetic one hour following administration.
Drink 2-3 liters of water per day.
Rinse mouth twice per day with an alcohol-based mouthwash.
Take the medication with an NSAID.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A Reason
Using an antiemetic one hour after administration of methotrexate is not a standard recommendation. Antiemetics are typically used to prevent nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and are taken before or at the time of methotrexate administration, not afterward.
Choice B Reason
Drinking 2-3 liters of water per day is important for patients taking methotrexate to prevent kidney damage by ensuring adequate hydration and facilitating the excretion of the drug¹. Methotrexate can be nephrotoxic, and proper hydration helps to mitigate this risk.
Choice C Reason
Rinsing the mouth with an alcohol-based mouthwash is not recommended for patients taking methotrexate. Alcohol can cause drying and irritation, which might exacerbate any mouth sores caused by methotrexate. Instead, patients should use a gentle, non-alcoholic mouthwash to maintain oral hygiene.
Choice D Reason
Taking methotrexate with an NSAID is not advised without specific medical guidance. NSAIDs can increase the toxicity of methotrexate by displacing it from protein-binding sites and reducing its renal clearance, potentially leading to increased side effects.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A Reason
While maintaining a stable blood pressure is important for a client with hypertension, furosemide is primarily a diuretic, and its therapeutic effect is to reduce fluid overload, not directly to stabilize blood pressure. Therefore, this finding alone does not best indicate the therapeutic effect of furosemide.
Choice B Reason
Clear lungs upon auscultation suggest an improvement in pulmonary edema, which can be associated with fluid overload in conditions such as heart failure. However, for a client with peripheral edema, the primary therapeutic goal of furosemide is to reduce the excess fluid in the extremities, not just the lungs.
Choice C Reason
A decrease in serum potassium is a known side effect of furosemide due to its action on the kidneys, leading to increased excretion of potassium. While it's important to monitor for hypokalemia, a decrease in potassium does not directly indicate the therapeutic effect of reducing edema.
Choice D Reason
An increase in urine output from 30 mL per hour to 100 mL per hour is a direct indication that furosemide is achieving its therapeutic effect. Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases urine production to help the body eliminate excess fluid, thereby reducing edema associated with conditions like hypertension.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A Reason
A blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg is considered within the normal range and is an ideal target for most individuals being treated for hypertension. This finding would not typically alert the nurse to a side effect of lisinopril.
Choice B Reason
Serum potassium of 5.5 mEq/L is higher than the normal range, which is typically between 3.5 and 5.0 mEq/L. Lisinopril can cause hyperkalemia, which is an elevated level of potassium in the blood. This is a known side effect of lisinopril, especially in clients with renal impairment, as it inhibits the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and reduces potassium excretion.
Choice C Reason
A heart rate of 80 beats per minute is within the normal range for adults, which is typically 60-100 beats per minute at rest. This finding would not alert the nurse to a side effect of lisinopril.
Choice D Reason
A respiration rate of 16 breaths per minute is within the normal range for adults, which is typically 12-20 breaths per minute at rest. This finding would not alert the nurse to a side effect of lisinopril.
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