Chapter 54: Drugs acting on the Upper Respiratory Tract
A patient receives guaifenesin. The nurse would expect the drug to begin acting within which time frame?
30 minutes
Acetylcysteine may be used as a mucolytic agent. What is an additional indication for the drug?
Antidote for acetaminophen poisoning
A client is experiencing allergy symptoms after being exposed to environmental dust. This reaction involves the action of histamine, which is released by what cells?
Basophils
A client has just been admitted for an overdose of pseudoephedrine. The nurse's assessment of the client should prioritize what system?
Cardiovascular
A client having an allergic reaction to mold, describes chest tightness and difficulty breathing. Which process is occurring?
Contraction of smooth muscle in the bronchi
A client comes to the clinic with what appears to be a cold. What group of upper respiratory drugs cause local vasoconstriction, which decreases blood flow and shrinks swollen membranes to improve air flow?
Decongestants
A nurse is describing the action of a prescribed antihistamine to a client. The nurse is describing which medication, by explaining that the drug elicits its antihistamine effects by nonselectively binding to central and peripheral H1 receptors?
Diphenhydramine
The pharmacology instructor is discussing the adverse effects of diphenhydramine. Which is not one of these effects?
Excessive salivation
A female client presents at the clinic with a dry, nonproductive cough. The client is diagnosed with bronchitis, and it is determined that she will need help thinning sputum so that the cough can become productive. What does the nurse expect will be prescribed for the client?
Guaifenesin
A group of nursing students are reviewing information about expectorants. The students demonstrate understanding when they identify which medication as an example?
Guaifenesin
What effect is associated with a first-generation H1 receptor antagonist?
It decreases capillary permeability
A group of students are reviewing information about antihistamines. The students demonstrate understanding of the information when they identify which agent as a second generation antihistamine?
Loratadine
Which agent would a nurse expect the health care provider to prescribe for a client experiencing motion sickness?
Meclizine
An older adult client is administered dimenhydrinate. Which is the priority nursing intervention for this client?
Protect from injury
A client reports anxiety, restlessness, nausea, and vomiting after using a nasal decongestant. Which drug should the nurse consider as the cause for these side effects?
Pseudoephedrine
Which agent would the nurse instruct a client to use orally?
Pseudoephedrine
A male client is diagnosed with chronic bronchitis. What would the nurse expect to be one of his physical reports?
Retention of secretions
A client informs the nurse about taking pseudoephedrine for the relief of nasal congestion due to the common cold. In which situation should the nurse suggest that the client not use this medication since it is a contraindication for this health care concern?
The client is being treated for severe hypertension.
Expectorants elicit their effect by which mechanism?
Thinning respiratory secretions
Mucolytics are often used for patients with cystic fibrosis, COPD, or tuberculosis.
True
When describing the action of decongestants, a nurse integrates knowledge of this class of drugs, identifying which mechanism?
Vasoconstriction of small blood vessels of the nasal membranes
What medication should be prescribed to minimize the risk associated with a blood transfusion for a client with a history of a previous transfusion reaction?
diphenhydramine
A client with cystic fibrosis may use which type of medication to reduce the viscosity of respiratory secretions?
Mucolytic
The nursing instructor is discussing the use of nasal decongestants and shares what reason for their effectiveness?
They come into direct contact with nasal mucosa.