Chapter 1- Nursing Management of Drug Therapy
1. A nurse has been assigned to care for a 52-year-old attorney who has hypertension and peptic ulcer
... [Show More] disease. Before administering his medications, the nurse must complete an initial assessment. Core patient variables will be obtained from which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
A) The patient's interview
B) The patient's medical history
C) The patient's medical record
D) The patient's physical examination
E) The patient's health insurer
Ans: A, B, C, D
Feedback:
Data should be obtained from sources including the patient interview, history, documentation, and examination. The patient's health insurance provider is not a component of the initial patient assessment. Pertinent findings can be assimilated to form a current, accurate picture of the patient's needs regarding drug therapy. Also, these facts will establish a baseline for the patient's treatment and care.
2. A 68-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with hypertension 2 weeks ago and was prescribed a new hypertension medication has returned to the clinic for a follow-up visit. The nurse notes that the patient's blood pressure is unchanged from her last clinic visit. When the patient was asked if she was taking the new medication on a regular basis, she stated, “I thought that I was supposed to take the new drug when I had a pounding headache or was in a stressful situation, not all the time.” An appropriate nursing diagnosis for this patient would be which of the following?
A) Knowledge, deficient due to the lack of understanding of treatment regimen
B) Coping, ineffective due to forgetfulness
C) Confusion, acute concerning drug administration
D) Anxiety due to diagnosis of hypertension Ans: A
Feedback:
Knowledge, Deficient is usually appropriate for a patient who has a new drug prescription and is not fully aware of why he/she is taking the drug or how to appropriately take the drug. Coping, Ineffective relates to a patient who may continually forget to take a drug for a chronic condition. Anxiety could be appropriate for someone who has just been diagnosed with hypertension, but the question does not indicate that the patient is anxious.
3. In order to promote therapeutic drug effects, the nurse should always encourage patients to
A) take their medication with meals.
B) take their medication at the prescribed times.
C) increase medication dosages if necessary.
D) use alternative therapy to increase the effects of their medications. Ans: B
Feedback:
Taking a drug at the appropriate time will help the patient maintain therapeutic drug levels. Not all medications should be taken with food, which can alter the absorption of some drugs. A patient should never increase or decrease a medication dosage without checking with the prescriber. Alternative therapy should only be used if the patient has discussed the therapy with the prescriber and they are in agreement.
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