A nurse provides health instructions to a client with bipolar disorder who is recently started on Lamotrigine tablets.
Which instruction should the nurse give to the client in case skin rash develops?
Lamotrigine and Skin Rash:
Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer used in bipolar disorder.
A serious side effect is a potentially life-threatening skin rash, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
Instructions for Rash Development:
Not to Worry: Incorrect as skin rash can indicate a serious reaction.
Continue Medication: Incorrect and dangerous, as the rash could worsen.
Report Immediately: Correct. Immediate reporting is crucial for assessment and potential discontinuation of the drug.
Reduce Dose: Incorrect as any rash should be evaluated by a physician immediately.
The nurse cares for a 60-year-old patient who is post renal transplant and on Sandimmune (Cyclosporine). While assessing the patient the nurse observed signs of septic shock.
Which of the following is a risk factor that predisposes the patient for septic shock?
Post Renal Transplant Care:
Patients who undergo renal transplants are prescribed immunosuppressive medications like Cyclosporine (Sandimmune) to prevent organ rejection.
Risk Factors for Septic Shock:
Age: Older adults have a higher risk of infections, but age alone is not the primary factor for septic shock in this context.
Multiple Surgeries: Increase the risk of infection but not as significant as immunosuppression.
Immunosuppression: The primary risk factor as it weakens the immune system, making the patient highly susceptible to infections leading to septic shock.
History of Medication Sensitivity: Important but less relevant to septic shock risk.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) on post-transplant care
Mayo Clinic on Septic Shock
A nurse visited a postpartum mother who delivered a baby boy 3 days ago. During assessment, the nurse suspects that the mother is having postpartum depression.
Which behavior suggests the condition in the mother?
Postpartum Depression Symptoms:
Postpartum depression can manifest in various ways, affecting the mother's ability to care for herself and her baby.
Behavioral Indicators:
Euthymia: Indicates normal mood, not a sign of depression.
Eating Too Little: Can be a symptom but not as specific to postpartum depression.
Weakness to Care for the Baby: A significant indicator, as it shows the mother's lack of energy, interest, or capability to perform daily tasks related to baby care.
Difficulty Breastfeeding: Could be due to various reasons and not solely indicative of depression.
American Psychological Association (APA) on Postpartum Depression
Mayo Clinic guidelines on Postpartum Depression
A group of nurses conducted a community-based diabetes self-management program. The program includes blood glucose self-monitoring and self-administering insulin injection.
Which of the following would be the BEST method the nurse would implement?
Diabetes Self-Management Education:
Effective education methods are essential to ensure patients understand and can manage their condition independently.
Educational Methods:
Audiovisual Method: Good for initial learning but not the best for confirming understanding.
Teach Back Method: The most effective method where the patient repeats back the information, ensuring they understand and can perform tasks correctly.
Focus Group and Group Discussion: Useful for sharing experiences but less effective for individual skill assessment.
American Diabetes Association (ADA) on Diabetes Education
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Health Literacy
A nurse is providing education to a new parent about the psychosocial development of the newborn.
Applying Erikson's psychosocial development theory, the nurse would BEST instruct the parents to:
Applying Erikson's psychosocial development theory, the nurse should instruct the parents to observe and respond to the newborn's signals of needs. According to Erikson, the first stage of psychosocial development is 'Trust vs. Mistrust,' which occurs from birth to approximately 18 months.
Trust vs. Mistrust: In this stage, infants learn to trust their caregivers when their needs for food, comfort, and affection are consistently met. If caregivers are responsive to the infant's needs, the infant develops a sense of trust and security.
Ignoring and Distracting the Newborn: This approach may lead to feelings of mistrust as the infant's needs are not being adequately addressed.
Anticipating and Planning for the Newborn's Demands: While planning is important, it is more crucial to be responsive to the infant's immediate signals.
Providing a Comfortable Environment: This is beneficial but must be combined with responsive caregiving to establish trust.
Erikson, E. H. (1963). Childhood and Society.
American Psychological Association (APA): Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development
