A client has a new prescription for Atenolol. Which of the following instructions should be included by the healthcare provider?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Atenolol is a beta-blocker that can cause bradycardia, leading to a decreased heart rate. Monitoring heart rate regularly is essential to detect any significant decreases promptly and seek medical attention. While other choices may be relevant to the client's overall health, monitoring heart rate is the priority instruction due to the nature of Atenolol's effects.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: In the case of a client starting a new prescription for Prednisone, the nurse should monitor serum glucose levels. Prednisone is a corticosteroid medication that can lead to hyperglycemia by increasing blood glucose levels. Monitoring serum glucose levels can help detect and manage this potential side effect. For the other options: - Serum potassium: Prednisone can lead to hypokalemia, but monitoring potassium levels is not the priority in this scenario. - Serum calcium: Prednisone does not directly affect calcium levels, so monitoring serum calcium is not necessary in this case. - Serum sodium: Prednisone can cause sodium retention, but monitoring sodium levels is not the priority compared to glucose monitoring in this situation. In an educational context, understanding the side effects and monitoring parameters for commonly prescribed medications like Prednisone is crucial for nursing practice. By knowing which laboratory values to monitor and why, nurses can provide safe and effective care to their patients, prevent complications, and intervene promptly if issues arise.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: In the context of pharmacology, the correct answer is A) St. John's wort. St. John's wort is known to interact with Warfarin, a blood thinner, by decreasing its effectiveness. This herb can lead to an increased risk of blood clots due to its impact on Warfarin metabolism. Therefore, clients on Warfarin should avoid St. John's wort to prevent dangerous interactions. Regarding the other options: - B) Echinacea: Echinacea is not known to interact significantly with Warfarin, so it is not the best answer in this case. - C) Garlic: While garlic may also interact with certain medications, there is no specific evidence to suggest a significant interaction with Warfarin compared to St. John's wort. - D) Ginseng: Ginseng is not typically associated with interactions with Warfarin that are as clinically significant as those with St. John's wort. Educationally, this question highlights the importance of understanding potential herb-drug interactions, especially with commonly used medications like Warfarin. Healthcare providers need to be knowledgeable about these interactions to provide safe and effective care to their patients. Patients should always inform their healthcare providers about any herbal supplements they are taking to prevent adverse effects and optimize treatment outcomes.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: In pharmacology, understanding how to properly apply transdermal patches is crucial for therapeutic efficacy and patient safety. The correct answer, option C, "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair," is the most appropriate because hair can interfere with proper adhesion and absorption of the medication. Placing the patch on a hairless area ensures better contact with the skin and optimal drug delivery. Option A, cleaning the site with an alcohol swab before applying the patch, is incorrect because alcohol can irritate the skin and affect patch adherence. Option B, rotating application sites weekly, is incorrect as it is a recommendation for preventing skin irritation and not a statement indicating understanding of patch application. Option D, placing the new patch on the site of the old patch, is incorrect as it can lead to skin irritation and uneven drug absorption. Educationally, this question emphasizes the importance of proper transdermal patch application to achieve therapeutic outcomes. It highlights the need for patients to understand key instructions to ensure safe and effective medication delivery through transdermal routes. Understanding these principles is essential for nurses and healthcare providers to educate patients on medication administration methods accurately.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: To determine the flow rate in drops per minute (gtt/min), you can use the formula: (Volume in mL x Drop factor) / Time in minutes = Flow rate in gtt/min. In this case, it would be (100 mL x 10 gtt/mL) / 45 min = 22 gtt/min. Therefore, the healthcare professional should adjust the manual IV infusion to deliver 22 gtt/min.