Nursing Elites

1. A nurse is caring for a client with hypothyroidism. Which of the following findings indicates that the client is experiencing an adverse effect from the prescribed levothyroxine?

• A. Tachycardia
• B. Bradycardia
• C. Weight loss
• D. Increased appetite

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Tachycardia is the correct answer as it is an adverse effect of levothyroxine. Levothyroxine is a medication used to treat hypothyroidism by supplementing the body with thyroid hormone. Tachycardia, or a fast heart rate, can indicate an overdosage or increased sensitivity to levothyroxine. Bradycardia, slow heart rate, weight loss, and increased appetite are not typically associated with adverse effects of levothyroxine. Bradycardia may actually be a symptom of untreated hypothyroidism.

2. A nurse is providing client education regarding lithium therapy. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

• A. Take with food to decrease nausea
• B. Avoid excessive intake of caffeinated beverages
• C. Monitor for signs of dehydration
• D. Restrict salt intake to prevent water retention

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. The nurse should instruct the client to avoid excessive intake of caffeinated beverages as they can interfere with lithium levels. Option A is incorrect as lithium is usually recommended to be taken on an empty stomach. Option C is not directly related to lithium therapy. Option D is not a typical instruction for lithium therapy.

3. A healthcare provider is preparing to administer heparin sodium to a client with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which of the following laboratory values should the provider monitor during therapy?

• A. INR
• B. Serum creatinine
• C. aPTT
• D. Bilirubin

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: aPTT. The healthcare provider should monitor the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) value during heparin therapy to assess the client's coagulation status. Heparin affects the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade, and monitoring aPTT helps ensure that the client is within the therapeutic range to prevent bleeding or clotting issues. INR (Choice A) is used to monitor warfarin therapy, not heparin. Serum creatinine (Choice B) is not directly related to monitoring heparin therapy. Bilirubin (Choice D) is related to liver function, not heparin therapy.

4. A client with an artificial heart valve is prescribed warfarin therapy. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse monitor to assess the therapeutic effect of warfarin?

• A. Hemoglobin (Hgb)
• B. Prothrombin time (PT)
• C. Bleeding time
• D. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Prothrombin time (PT). Warfarin is an anticoagulant medication that works by inhibiting the clotting factors dependent on vitamin K, such as factors II, VII, IX, and X. The prothrombin time (PT) measures the extrinsic pathway and is used to monitor the therapeutic effects of warfarin therapy. Monitoring PT helps assess the time it takes for the blood to clot, ensuring that the anticoagulant effect is within the desired range. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because hemoglobin (Hgb) measures the amount of hemoglobin in the blood, bleeding time assesses the time it takes for bleeding to stop, and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is used to monitor heparin therapy, not warfarin therapy.

5. A nurse is preparing to administer potassium chloride IV to a client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent complications?

• A. Administer the medication by IV bolus over 2 minutes
• B. Infuse the medication slowly using an IV pump
• C. Add the medication to an IV solution of D5W
• D. Dilute the medication in 5 mL of sterile water

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct action to prevent complications when administering potassium chloride IV is to infuse the medication slowly using an IV pump. Rapid administration of potassium chloride can lead to complications such as hyperkalemia and cardiac arrest. Options A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not promote the safe administration of potassium chloride. Administering the medication by IV bolus over 2 minutes is too rapid and can cause adverse effects. Adding the medication to an IV solution of D5W or diluting it in sterile water may not control the rate of administration, increasing the risk of complications.

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