A patient taking magnesium citrate as an osmotic laxative reports abdominal cramping and diarrhea. What should the nurse recommend?
Increase fluid intake
Continue the medication; these are expected side effects
Discontinue the medication and consult a healthcare provider
Switch to a different type of laxative
The Correct Answer is B
A. Increasing fluid intake may not alleviate the cramping and diarrhea, which are common side effects of magnesium citrate.
B. Abdominal cramping and diarrhea are expected side effects of magnesium citrate, and the patient can continue the medication unless symptoms become severe.
C. Discontinuing the medication should not be recommended unless the side effects are intolerable or the patient experiences severe reactions.
D. Switching to a different type of laxative is unnecessary unless the patient has contraindications to magnesium citrate or develops severe side effects.
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Correct Answer is ["A","B"]
Explanation
A. The client's skin and eyes are visibly jaundiced is correct because jaundice indicates a buildup of bilirubin in the blood, which is a sign of liver dysfunction.
B. The client's AST and ALT levels are elevated is correct because elevated levels of these liver enzymes indicate hepatocellular injury, which is consistent with liver damage due to acetaminophen overdose.
C. The client's temperature is 102.5° F (39.2° C) is incorrect; while a fever can occur in various conditions, it is not specific for liver damage in this context.
D. The client has an elevated red blood cell count is incorrect; elevated red blood cell counts are not indicative of liver damage and may be related to other factors.
E. The client's eyes are sensitive to light is incorrect; photophobia is not a direct indicator of liver damage and is more related to other conditions.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Prothrombin time (PT) is used to monitor warfarin therapy, not heparin therapy.
B. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is the primary laboratory test used to assess the effectiveness of heparin therapy, measuring the time it takes for blood to clot and ensuring therapeutic levels.
C. The International normalized ratio (INR) is also related to warfarin therapy rather than heparin.
D. Serum potassium level is not relevant for assessing heparin therapy but may be monitored for other reasons.