An older adult client with hypertension has recently been prescribed a beta-adrenergic blocker and a thiazide diuretic. When educating the client about preventing and managing adverse effects, the nurse will provide which instruction?
"Change positions slowly to prevent lightheadedness or dizziness."
"Reduce your fluid intake initially, to prevent excessive urination."
"Identify and eliminate any high-potassium foods from your diet."
"Expect your blood pressure to increase for several days before it begins to decrease."
The Correct Answer is A
A. Changing positions slowly is critical for older adults taking beta-adrenergic blockers and diuretics to prevent orthostatic hypotension, which can lead to lightheadedness or dizziness.
B. Reducing fluid intake is not advisable, as thiazide diuretics can lead to dehydration, and maintaining adequate fluid intake is essential for overall health and to avoid excessive urinary output.
C. Identifying and eliminating high-potassium foods is unnecessary unless there is a specific indication of hyperkalemia, particularly since thiazide diuretics do not typically cause potassium retention, and beta-blockers are not potassium-specific.
D. Expecting blood pressure to increase before it decreases is misleading; clients should see a gradual reduction in blood pressure with proper medication adherence, and any sudden increases should be reported.
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Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. While dietary intake is important, especially regarding sodium and fluid balance, it is not the highest priority compared to monitoring blood pressure.
B. Monitoring the client's blood pressure is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of the prescribed antihypertensive medications and to ensure the client is within the target range for managing her hypertension.
C. Weighing the client is important for monitoring fluid retention, especially with hydrochlorothiazide, but it is secondary to direct blood pressure monitoring.
D. Monitoring the respiratory rate is generally less critical in this scenario unless there are specific concerns related to medication side effects or respiratory conditions.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Giving the drug with food may delay absorption but does not affect the extent of the first-pass effect.
B. Administering the drug in small, frequent doses may help maintain therapeutic levels but will not significantly alter the first-pass effect.
C. Limiting protein intake could reduce drug binding to proteins, but this is not a standard approach for managing first-pass metabolism.
D. Administering the drug intravenously bypasses the gastrointestinal tract and liver, avoiding the first-pass effect, thereby increasing the amount of free drug available to body cells.