ATI LPN
Pharmacology and the Nursing Process 10th Edition Test Bank
Chapter 14 : Antiepileptic Drugs Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse has given medication instructions to a patient receiving phenytoin. Which statement by the patient indicates that the patient has an adequate understanding of the instructions?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Good dental care is necessary to prevent gingival hypertrophy during therapy with phenytoin. Alcohol and other central nervous system depressants may cause severe sedation. Consistent dosing is important to maintain therapeutic drug levels. Therapy with AEDs usually must continue for life and must not be stopped once seizures stop.
Question 2 of 5
When teaching a patient about taking a newly prescribed antiepileptic drug (AED) at home, the nurse will include which instruction?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Consistent dosing, taken regularly at the same time of day, at the recommended dose, and with meals to reduce the common gastrointestinal adverse effects, is the key to successful management of seizures when taking AEDs. The other options are not correct statements.
Question 3 of 5
A patient has a 9-year history of a seizure disorder that has been managed well with oral phenytoin therapy. He is to be NPO (consume nothing by mouth) for surgery in the morning. What will the nurse do about his morning dose of phenytoin?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: If there are any questions about the medication order or the medication prescribed, contact the prescriber immediately for clarification and for an order of the appropriate dose form of the medication. Do not change the route without the prescriber's order. There is an increased risk of seizure activity if one or more doses of the AED are missed.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is monitoring a patient who has been taking carbamazepine for 2 months. Which effects would indicate that autoinduction has started to occur?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: With carbamazepine, autoinduction occurs and leads to lower than expected drug concentrations.
Therefore, the dosage may have to be adjusted with time. The other options are incorrect.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is giving an intravenous dose of phenytoin. Which action is correct when administering this drug?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Intravenous phenytoin is given only with normal saline solution to prevent precipitation formation caused by incompatibilities. The IV push dose must be given slowly (not exceeding 50 mg/min in adults), and the patient must be monitored for bradycardia and decreased blood pressure.