The nurse routinely includes health teaching about vitamins to patients. Vitamin D has a major role in which process?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Vitamin D regulates calcium and phosphorus metabolism, promoting bone health by enhancing intestinal absorption of these minerals. Night blindness (A) is associated with vitamin A deficiency. Growth and development (C) are influenced by multiple vitamins, not just vitamin D. DNA and prothrombin synthesis (D) are unrelated to vitamin D.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Clopidogrel is a drug that has a therapeutic effect in preventing thromboembolic events. It is an antiplatelet agent that works by inhibiting platelet aggregation, thus reducing the risk of blood clot formation. Clopidogrel is commonly used in patients at risk for cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. Warfarin is an anticoagulant medication that also helps prevent blood clots, but it works by a different mechanism than clopidogrel. Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker used to treat hypertension and angina, while nitroglycerine is a vasodilator used in the treatment of angina.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Gingival hyperplasia is a side effect of Phenytoin , an antiseizure drug. Estrogen and Progesterone in contraceptives don't cause this. Lamotrigine and Valproic acid (E) lack this effect. Phenytoin's long-term use induces gum overgrowth, fitting her 8-year history.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: One potential adverse effect of antihypertensive drugs, particularly beta-blockers and diuretics, is impotence. Antihypertensive medications can affect sexual function in males by causing erectile dysfunction or impotence due to their mechanism of action on blood vessels and circulation. It is important for the nurse to inform the patient about this possible side effect so that appropriate management strategies or alternative treatment options can be discussed. Impotence can have a significant impact on a patient's quality of life and adherence to medication, so open communication and education are essential in managing this issue.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Ondansetron is a medication commonly used to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting, particularly in patients undergoing chemotherapy or surgery. It belongs to a class of drugs known as antiemetics, which work by blocking serotonin, a neurotransmitter that can trigger nausea and vomiting. By inhibiting the effects of serotonin, ondansetron helps to reduce the incidence and severity of these symptoms, providing a therapeutic effect for individuals experiencing nausea and vomiting.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Escitalopram, an SSRI, boosts serotonin, easing both anxiety and depression-shared neurochemistry (e.g., limbic dysregulation), per psychiatry. Calling it masked depression assumes unstated symptoms. Doctor's choice plus safety is true but less explanatory. Disorders don't always coexist-serotonin explains use, answering directly.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Palpitations are a late manifestation of hypokalemia. Hypokalemia is a condition characterized by low levels of potassium in the blood. Potassium plays a vital role in maintaining normal heart function. When potassium levels are low, it can lead to abnormal heart rhythms, including palpitations. Other symptoms of hypokalemia, such as muscle weakness, lethargy, and even hypotension, may be present before palpitations occur. Therefore, palpitations are considered a late manifestation of hypokalemia that signals significant potassium depletion and should be addressed promptly to prevent serious cardiac complications.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Vitamin D regulates calcium and phosphorus metabolism, promoting bone health by enhancing intestinal absorption of these minerals. Night blindness (A) is associated with vitamin A deficiency. Growth and development (C) are influenced by multiple vitamins, not just vitamin D. DNA and prothrombin synthesis (D) are unrelated to vitamin D.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Cefotaxime is a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic commonly used to treat bacterial infections post-surgery. One of its most significant and frequent adverse effects is disruption of the gastrointestinal flora, which can lead to diarrhea, including potentially severe conditions like Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea. This makes monitoring for diarrhea a critical nursing action, as it can indicate a serious complication requiring immediate intervention. While headache, constipation, and tachycardia can occur with various medications, they are less commonly associated with cefotaxime compared to diarrhea. Headache might suggest a neurological issue or dehydration, constipation could relate to immobility post-surgery rather than the drug itself, and tachycardia might indicate an allergic reaction or systemic issue, but these are not the primary concerns with this antibiotic. Diarrhea, however, directly correlates with cefotaxime's impact on gut microbiota, making it the priority observation for adverse effects in this scenario, thus supporting choice A as the correct answer.