Seizures

A nurse is teaching about the adverse effects of baclofen with a client who has multiple sclerosis with spasms. Which of the following statements should the nurse identify as an indication that the client understands the teaching?

"I should not stop taking this medication suddenly." The nurse should inform the client about the adverse effects associated with abrupt withdrawal of baclofen such as visual hallucinations, paranoid ideations, and seizures.

A nurse is providing teaching about home care to the guardian of a school-aged child who has seizures. Which of the following statements by the guardian indicates an understanding of the teaching?

"I will turn my child onto her side when a seizure begins." To reduce the risk of aspiration and to improve oxygenation, the guardian should place the child in a side-lying position.

A nurse is providing teaching to the partner of a client who is at risk for alcohol withdrawal after 6 hours of cessation. Which of the following statements by the partner indicates an understanding of the teaching?

"My partner might begin to shake." Tremulousness is the classic sign of alcohol withdrawal, commonly called "the shakes" or jitters. Tremulousness begins 6 to 8 hours after alcohol cessation.

A nurse is caring for a client who has alcohol use disorder and is receiving treatment for alcohol withdrawal. The client reports hand tremors 12 hr after admission. Which of the following statements should the nurse provide?

"The tremors will persist for a few days as you are withdrawing from alcohol." The nurse should inform the client that tremors and other manifestations of alcohol withdrawal may persist for several days after the last intake of alcohol.

A nurse is providing teaching to a client with a seizure disorder who has a new prescription for carbamazepine. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?

"This medication will decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives."

A nurse is caring for a client who is undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to treat major depression. Following the procedure, which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Administer oxygen In preparation for ECT, the anesthesiologist administers succinylcholine, which paralyzes respiratory muscles. Clients require oxygen administration until their respiratory status is stable.

A nurse is assessing a client who is taking lithium to treat bipolar disorder and has a lithium level of 2.2 mEg/L Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Blurry vision Manifestations of lithium toxicity with levels between 2 and 2.5 mE/L include blurry vision, ataxia, clonic twitching, severe hypotension, and polyuria.

A nurse is assessing a client who is at 26 weeks of gestation and has mild preeclampsia. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?

Deep tendon reflexes 4+ Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes demonstrate a progression from mild preeclampsia to severe gestational hypertension or preeclampsia with severe features. This finding indicates the need for hospitalization and treatment with magnesium sulfate to prevent eclamptic seizures.

A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving continuous cardiac monitoring. Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate administering to treat atrial fibrillation?

Diltiazem Diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker, is used to slow the ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation or flutter. Diltiazem is also prescribed to treat hypertension, angina, and other supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.

A nurse is administering adenosine via IV bolus for a client who has developed paroxysmal atrial tachycardia. For which of the following findings should the nurse assess the client during the administration of adenosine?

Dyspnea Dyspnea can occur during the administration of adenosine due to bronchoconstriction. Since adenosine has a short half-life of about 10 seconds, this effect should be short- lived.

A nurse is monitoring a client who has Graves' disease for the development of thyroid storm. The nurse should report which of the following findings to the provider?

Hypertension A client who is experiencing a thyroid storm will have an exaggerated condition of hyperthyroidism associated with the development of a fever, hypertension, abdominal pain, and tachycardia. Graves' disease is a common cause of hyperthyroidism, which is an imbalance of metabolism caused by overproduction of thyroid hormone.

A nurse is caring for a client with benign prostatic hyperplasia who has a new prescription for doxazosin. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse monitor for as an adverse effectt of doxazosin?

Hypotension Nonselective alphal-adrenergic antagonists like doxazosin block sympathetic receptors in the blood vessels as well as receptors in the bladder. These agents promote vasodilation, which can cause decreased blood pressure.

A nurse is caring for a client in the early stage of labor who has preeclampsia with severe features. Which of the following interventions should the nurse perform?

Implement seizure precautions Clients who have preeclampsia with severe features are at risk for seizures. The nurse should keep the side rails of the client's bed up and ensure oxygen and suction equipment are readily available.

A nurse is assessing a postpartum client who has preeclampsia and notes a boggy uterus and excessive uterine bleeding. The nurse should plan to administer which of the following medications?

Oxytocin Oxytocin is a uterotonic medication that causes the uterus to contract and reduces excessive uterine bleeding.

A nurse is monitoring the electrocardiogram of a client who has hypocalcemia. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Prolonged QT intervals Manifestations of hypocalcemia include tingling, numbness, tetany, seizures, prolonged QT intervals, and laryngospasm. Causes include hypoparathyroidism, chronic kidney disease, and diarrhea.

A nurse at an acute care facility is caring for a client receiving IV antibiotic treatments for an infection. The client reports daily alcohol use at home. On the second day of admission, the client becomes agitated and has a blood pressure of 195/102 mmHg and a heart rate of 118/min. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?

Request a prescription for chlordiazepoxide The nurse should recognize the client's findings as indicating withdrawal from alcohol and intervene to decrease the adverse manifestations. Chlordiazepoxide, an anxiolytic, is a benzodiazepine prescribed for alcohol withdrawal that reduces manifestations and can help prevent seizures and delirium tremens.

A nurse is teaching a client who has depression and is scheduled for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The nurse should inform the client that TMS can cause which of the following adverse effects?

Seizures Although uncommon, seizures are a potential adverse effect of TMS.

A nurse is caring for a client who is exhibiting confusion. The nurse should identify that which of the following laboratory values can cause confusion?

Sodium 123 mEq/L A sodium level of 123 mEg/L is below the expected reference range of 136 to 145 mEg/L Low sodium levels can cause confusion and lead to seizures, coma, and death.

A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is caring for a client who is at risk of experiencing seizures. Which of the following pieces of equipment must be available at the client's bedside at all times?

Suction equipment The greatest risk to a client who is having a seizure is an injury from aspirating secretions or emesis; therefore, the nurse must have suction equipment available for clearing the mouth of secretions or emesis to reduce this risk.

A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a history of tonic-clonic seizures and is scheduled for a standard electroencephalogram (EEG). Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

Thoroughly shampoo her hair prior to the EEG The nurse should instruct the client to thoroughly wash her hair prior to the EEG because hairsprays, oils, and other hair preparations interfere with recording results of the EEG.