PHARM Module 10

Take the medicine with or after meals

A 50 year old male calls the clinic nurse and complains of gastrointestinal upset after taking nitrofurantoin (Furadantin) on an empty stomach. What recommendation should the nurse make?

"You might find that you get a dry mouth or a headache from this drug, but this does not mean it has to be discontinued."

A 56 year old woman will soon begin treatment of her overactive bladder with tolterodine. What patient teaching should the nurse provide to this woman?

renal insufficiency

A 72 year old female clinic patient is started on cinoxacin for a urinary tract infection. Prior to administering this drug the nurse should assess the client for what condition?

Hypokalemia

A client who has been taking hydrochlorothiazide arrives at the clinic for his 1 month follow up appointment. The client tells the nurse that he feels weaker since he began taking the drug. What should the nurse consider as a possible cause of these symptoms?

This is normal with this medication

A nurse is caring for a patient who is being administered phenazopyridine. The patient is distressed on seeing that urine is exhibiting a reddish-orange discoloration. Which of the following is the most appropriate response by the nurse?

Administer the drug early in the day

A nurse is caring for a patient with acute renal failure. The physician has prescribed a diuretic therapy for the patient to promote diuresis. What intervention should the nurse perform to prevent the inconvenience caused by increased urination?

"You will lose less potassium with spironolactone than with furosemide."

A patient is switched from Furosemide to Spironolactone. The patient asks the nurse why she has been switched to a new medicine. What is the best answer that will provide patient education regarding the change?

Bananas

A patient is taking spironolactone. When providing patient teaching about this medication, what foods should the patient be instructed to avoid?

Increased blood glucose

A physician has prescribed a loop diuretic for a patient with hypertension. The patient also has diabetes mellitus. What condition should the nurse monitor for in this patient after administering the prescribed drug?

Avoid touching any crushed or broken tablets

A pregnant woman is helping her elderly father with his medications. He is taking dutasteride. The nurse will instruct the daughter to do what?

Norfloxacin

The clinic nurse is providing education to a patient with a UTI. What drug for the treatment of UTI is the nurse providing information about?

Make sure the drugs are given at least 2 hours apart

The nurse is caring for a patient with known coronary artery disease who is being treated with cholestyramine and hydrochlorothiazide. What action will the nurse take?

To weigh themselves on the same scale, at the same time of the day.

The nurse is providing discharge instructions to a patient who has been discharged home on a diuretic. What would the patient's instructions regarding the use of a diuretic at home include?

pulmonary edema

The nurse would anticipate an order for a loop diuretic as the drug of choice for a client with:

Furosemide

Which of the following is an example of a loop diuretic?

"I will weigh myself daily and report significant changes."

Which of the following statements by your 62 year old patient indicates that they understand your teaching about diuretics?

Obtaining a urine culture and sensitivity test

Which of the following would be most important prior to beginning therapy with a urinary anti-infective agent?

symptoms of a continuing UTI

You are caring for a patient who is taking a urinary anti-infective. As a nurse, what would you need to assess this patient for?

Mannitol

You are caring for a patient with a severe head injury. An osmotic diuretic is ordered. Which drug is an osmotic diuretic?

Take the medication with food

You are doing patient teaching about the urinary anti-infective methenamine. You will instruct the patient to what?