You're providing discharge instructions to a patient who will be taking a loop diuretic at home. Which statement by the patient demonstrates they did NOT understand the teaching material and requires that you reinforce some of the teaching points?
"I will weigh myself daily and report to my physician if I gain more than 3 lbs in 1 day."
"This medication can cause dehydration, so I will stay hydrated by consuming at least 2 L or more of fluid per day."
"I will eat a diet rich in potatoes, bananas, avocadoes, strawberries, and spinach."
"I will change position slowly because I can become dizzy easily while taking this medication."
The Correct Answer is C
Loop diuretics, such as furosemide, are known to promote diuresis (increased urine output) and can cause electrolyte imbalances, including low potassium (hypokalemia). The patient's statement about eating a diet rich in potassium-containing foods like potatoes, bananas, avocadoes, strawberries, and spinach is incorrect in this context. These foods are indeed good sources of potassium, but when taking loop diuretics, it is necessary to monitor and potentially restrict potassium intake to prevent excessive potassium levels.
"I will weigh myself daily and report to my physician if I gain more than 3 lbs in 1 day." This statement reflects the patient's understanding of the need to monitor their weight daily as a means of assessing fluid balance. Rapid weight gain may indicate fluid retention, which should be reported to the physician.
"This medication can cause dehydration, so I will stay hydrated by consuming at least 2 L or more of fluid per day." This statement demonstrates awareness of the potential for dehydration when taking loop diuretics and the importance of staying adequately hydrated by consuming an appropriate amount of fluids.
"I will change position slowly because I can become dizzy easily while taking this medication." This statement reflects the understanding that loop diuretics can cause orthostatic hypotension,
leading to dizziness upon sudden changes in position. Taking precautions and changing position slowly can help prevent falls and related injuries.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The pH value of 7.5 indicates alkalosis, as it is above the normal range of 7.35-7.45. The elevated bicarbonate (HCO3-) level of 34 mmol/L suggests metabolic alkalosis, as it is higher than the normal range of 22-28 mmol/L. The PaCO2 level of 40 mm Hg falls within the normal range of 35-45 mm Hg.
In this case, the primary disturbance is metabolic alkalosis, which is likely caused by vomiting leading to excessive loss of gastric acid (hydrogen ions) and chloride ions from the stomach. This loss of acid and chloride results in an imbalance of electrolytes and an increase in bicarbonate levels, leading to metabolic alkalosis.
The arterial blood gas results do not indicate any compensation. Compensation occurs when the body attempts to restore the pH balance by adjusting the respiratory or metabolic systems. In this case, there is no compensation observed because the PaCO2 level is within the normal range and not significantly altered.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
To calculate the patient's body mass index (BMI), we need to divide the weight (in kilograms) by the square of the height (in meters). Let's convert the height and weight measurements to the appropriate units and perform the calculation:
Height: 5 feet, 6 inches = 5 + (6/12) = 5.5 feet = 1.6764 meters (rounded to four decimal places) Weight: 250 lb. = 113.3 kg
BMI = Weight (kg) / (Height (m))^2
BMI = 113.3 kg / (1.6764 m)^2
BMI ≈ 40.0
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