When teaching a patient to take their own pulse, which medication should the nurse instruct them to monitor? (Hint: if pulse is <60 or >100, the patient should contact their healthcare provider before taking the medication)

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: It is essential for patients taking Digoxin to monitor their pulse regularly. If their pulse falls below 60 or exceeds 100 beats per minute, they should contact their healthcare provider immediately. This is crucial due to Digoxin's potential to affect heart rate, making pulse monitoring a vital aspect of patient care while on this medication.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Disulfiram, an aldehyde dehydrogenase blocker, is used in alcoholism to deter drinking. When alcohol is consumed, acetaldehyde accumulates, causing nausea . Bradycardia isn't typical; tachycardia may occur with acetaldehyde buildup. Elation and euphoria contradict the aversive intent. Urticaria (E) is possible but less common. Nausea, with flushing and vomiting, creates an unpleasant reaction, reinforcing abstinence. This aligns with disulfiram's mechanism, leveraging acetaldehyde toxicity to modify behavior, distinguishing it from other effects.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Carbamazepine can cause leukopenia, including neutropenia, as a side effect. A neutrophil count of 1,200/mm3 is below the normal range and indicates a potential adverse effect. Platelet count, uric acid, and SGPT levels are within normal ranges and do not indicate side effects. Therefore, the neutrophil count is the concerning result.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Shaking the albuterol inhaler before use is essential to ensure that the medication is evenly mixed and properly delivered when inhaled. This maximizes the effectiveness of the medication in opening the airways and relieving symptoms of bronchospasm.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: When administering eye drops, it is essential to ask the client to look up at the ceiling. This position helps prevent the drops from falling onto the cornea, ensuring that the medication is properly absorbed without causing discomfort or irritation.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The plateau phase, where max effect holds despite dose increases, is the curve's top horizontal stretch, per pharmacodynamic curves. Beginning is pre-effect. Upward move is onset. Mid-upstroke is rising. Plateau marks saturation, standard in graphs.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Patients taking Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors should avoid salt substitutes because they can contain potassium chloride, which may lead to hyperkalemia. It is important to restrict potassium-rich foods while on ACE inhibitors, but the primary concern with salt substitutes is their potassium content.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Methotrexate is hepatotoxic, and avoiding alcohol is crucial to prevent liver damage. However, Option A (Take this medication with food to prevent nausea) could also be correct, as Methotrexate commonly causes nausea, and taking it with food can help alleviate this side effect. However, the most important instruction is to avoid alcohol due to the risk of liver toxicity.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Verifying the client's current cumulative lifetime dose of doxorubicin is necessary because excessive amounts of the medication can lead to cardiomyopathy, a serious and potentially life-threatening side effect. By monitoring the cumulative dose, healthcare providers can help prevent cardiotoxicity and ensure patient safety during treatment.