The patient is prescribed an ACE inhibitor. What primary mechanism of ACE inhibitors will the nurse understand as the therapeutic action?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The primary mechanism of ACE inhibitors is to inhibit the production of angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor that also stimulates the release of aldosterone. By inhibiting angiotensin II production, ACE inhibitors decrease aldosterone secretion. Aldosterone is a hormone that plays a key role in regulating blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. Inhibiting aldosterone secretion helps to reduce blood pressure by decreasing sodium and water retention, ultimately leading to vasodilation and lower blood pressure levels.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: 1. INR (International Normalized Ratio): INR is the primary test used to monitor the effectiveness of Warfarin therapy. It measures the clotting tendency of the patient's blood in relation to a standard measurement. The INR target range for patients on Warfarin therapy varies depending on the reason for treatment, but typically falls between 2.0 to 3.0.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Senna is a stimulant laxative commonly used to treat constipation. Its effectiveness is primarily evaluated based on the production of soft, well-formed bowel movements. Senna works by stimulating the muscles in the intestines, promoting bowel movements and easing constipation. It is not typically used for reducing GI pain and irritation, healing ulcers, or preventing nausea and vomiting. Therefore, the evaluation of medication effectiveness of senna is primarily based on achieving soft, formed bowel movements in patients with constipation.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Digoxin is a medication commonly used to treat heart failure and certain types of irregular heartbeats. Its therapeutic effect includes increasing cardiac output, which helps improve the function of the heart. Digoxin also has the ability to slow down the heart rate, making it particularly beneficial for patients with conditions like atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Therefore, among the options provided, Digoxin is the drug that has a therapeutic effect of increasing cardiac output and slowing heart rate.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Senna is a natural laxative commonly used to relieve constipation. Its primary mechanism of action is to stimulate the muscles in the intestines, leading to increased contractions and bowel movements. The evaluation of medication effectiveness for senna would typically focus on its ability to promote bowel movements and alleviate constipation. This would manifest as patients experiencing solid, formed bowel movements after taking senna. The options of decreased GI pain and irritation, healing of ulcers, and prevention of nausea and vomiting are not the primary expected outcomes when evaluating the effectiveness of senna as a medication for constipation.