A nurse is assessing a client who has a prescription for haloperidol 0.5 mg PO three times daily. The medication administration record shows that the client received 5 mg per dose on the previous day. Which of the following manifestations is the nurse's priority to assess?
Mostly cloudy
Constipation
Dry mouth
Daytime drowsiness
Muscle stiffness
The Correct Answer is E
Rationale:
A. Mostly cloudy: This is an unclear statement. It is not related to a physical manifestation that would result from haloperidol overdose.
B. Constipation: Although haloperidol can cause constipation as a side effect, it is not the most urgent concern. Other manifestations are more immediately life-threatening.
C. Dry mouth: Dry mouth is a common side effect of antipsychotics, but it is not life-threatening and would not be the priority assessment in the case of a medication overdose.
D. Daytime drowsiness: Sedation is a known side effect of haloperidol, but it is not the priority in this scenario where an overdose occurred.
E. Muscle stiffness: Muscle stiffness may indicate extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) or neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), both of which are serious and potentially life-threatening side effects of haloperidol, especially in cases of overdose. Assessing for these symptoms is the priority.
Free Nursing Test Bank
- Free Pharmacology Quiz 1
- Free Medical-Surgical Quiz 2
- Free Fundamentals Quiz 3
- Free Maternal-Newborn Quiz 4
- Free Anatomy and Physiology Quiz 5
- Free Obstetrics and Pediatrics Quiz 6
- Free Fluid and Electrolytes Quiz 7
- Free Community Health Quiz 8
- Free Promoting Health across the Lifespan Quiz 9
- Free Multidimensional Care Quiz 10
View Related questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Lactated Ringer's: This solution is isotonic and is typically used for fluid resuscitation, not for hypotonic treatment.
B. 0.9% sodium chloride: This is isotonic saline and does not qualify as a hypotonic solution.
C. 3% sodium chloride: This solution is hypertonic and used to treat severe hyponatremia, not hypotonic hydration.
D. 0.45% sodium chloride: This is the correct choice as it is a hypotonic solution that can help to hydrate cells by providing free water.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Delaying the incident report until the end of the current shift can compromise the timely documentation of the error and any necessary interventions that may arise.
B. While it's important to notify risk management, the priority should be to document the incident immediately after assessing the client to ensure a complete record of the error.
C. Completing the incident report as soon as the assessment is complete is the most appropriate action, allowing for prompt documentation of the error and any potential effects on patient care.
D. Informing the previous nurse is necessary for communication, but it should not delay the completion of the incident report, which is crucial for tracking errors and improving safety protocols.