When monitoring a patient for signs of hypokalemia, the nurse looks for what early sign?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Muscle weakness is an early sign of hypokalemia. Potassium plays a crucial role in maintaining proper muscle function, so low potassium levels can lead to muscle weakness and fatigue. As potassium is essential for nerve impulses and muscle contractions, a decrease in potassium can impair muscle strength and function. Therefore, when monitoring a patient for signs of hypokalemia, the nurse should look for muscle weakness as an early indicator. Seizures, cardiac dysrhythmias, and diarrhea are potential complications that can occur if hypokalemia is severe and left untreated.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Transdermal nitroglycerin patches are most appropriately used to prevent the occurrence of angina. Nitroglycerin is a vasodilator that works by relaxing and widening blood vessels, which helps to increase blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle. By using nitroglycerin patches regularly, the patient can help prevent episodes of angina, which is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood. Nitroglycerin patches are not used to prevent low blood pressure, relieve shortness of breath, or control heart rate during exercise.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Patients receiving phentolamine often experience extensions of the therapeutic effects, including hypotension, orthostatic hypotension, angina, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, flushing, tachycardia, and arrhythmia all of which are related to vasodilation and decreased blood pressure. Headache, weakness, and dizziness often occur in response to hypotension. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. Hypertension, wheezing, and depressed respiration would not be associated with phentolamine. The nurse should monitor for adverse effects and intervene as needed.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Given the patient's medical history of pancreatitis and cirrhosis, both conditions can affect the functioning of the liver and potentially interact with medications that are metabolized by the liver. Captopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, which is often a preferred choice for patients with liver disease as it has minimal hepatic metabolism. This decreased reliance on hepatic metabolism makes captopril a safer choice for this patient compared to other antihypertensive medications that may cause liver-related complications. Additionally, ACE inhibitors like captopril are commonly used in patients with hypertension to help reduce blood pressure and protect against further complications related to cardiovascular health.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Prednisone, a corticosteroid, manages inflammation but risks serious side effects. Blurred vision may signal glaucoma or cataracts, ocular emergencies requiring immediate reporting to prevent vision loss. Increased appetite and weight gain are common, manageable effects of cortisol excess. Mood swings occur due to CNS effects but are less urgent unless severe. Blurred vision stands out as a rare but critical adverse reaction, linked to prednisone's long-term impact on intraocular pressure or lens opacity. Teaching this ensures early detection, aligning with corticosteroid monitoring where eye complications can escalate fast. Appetite, weight, and mood changes, while disruptive, don't match this urgency, making C the priority side effect for the client to report promptly.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Patients taking Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors should avoid salt substitutes, foods high in potassium, and foods high in sodium. Salt substitutes often contain potassium chloride, which may cause an increase in potassium levels when combined with ACE inhibitors. Foods high in potassium, such as bananas, oranges, spinach, and potatoes, can also potentially elevate potassium levels when consumed in large amounts. Additionally, foods high in sodium can counteract the effects of ACE inhibitors in managing blood pressure. Therefore, it is important for patients on ACE inhibitors to be mindful of their intake of salt substitutes, high-potassium foods, and high-sodium foods to ensure the effectiveness of their medication and to prevent any potential complications.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Tetracycline can cause photosensitivity, increasing the risk of severe sunburn. Patients should be advised to use sunscreen and avoid prolonged sun exposure. Taking antacids with tetracycline is contraindicated, as they can bind to the drug and reduce its absorption. Hearing loss and retinal damage are not associated with tetracycline use. Instead, patients should be monitored for gastrointestinal side effects and advised to take the medication with food if tolerated.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct definition for absorption of a drug is the movement of a drug from the site of administration (e.g., mouth, skin, injection site) into the bloodstream and then to various tissues of the body. This process is a critical step in the pharmacokinetics of a drug, as it determines the rate and extent to which the drug reaches its target site of action. Absorption can be affected by various factors such as the route of administration, drug formulation, and physiological factors of the individual.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The first pass effect refers to the metabolism of a drug occurring as it passes from the gastrointestinal tract (GUT lumen) to the liver, before reaching the systemic circulation. This process can significantly reduce the amount of active drug that enters systemic circulation, impacting the drug's overall effectiveness. The first pass effect is an important consideration in pharmacokinetics as it affects the bioavailability of a drug and influences dosing regimens. Options A, C, D, and E do not specifically pertain to the metabolism of a drug en route from the GUT lumen to the systemic circulation as described in the question.