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 assessing potassium levels is important for clients on diuretics, the immediate concern is the client's dizziness, which indicates a potential issue with blood pressure.
B. Teaching the client about the potential for orthostatic hypotension caused by hydrochlorothiazide and instructing them on safety measures (e.g., standing up slowly) is crucial to prevent falls and address the dizziness.
C. Bed rest is not necessary; the client should be educated about managing dizziness instead.
D. Withholding the medication is not warranted unless directed by a healthcare provider; the focus should be on safety education.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Hypertension can affect drug distribution to some extent due to altered perfusion but is not the most significant factor impacting distribution, especially for a local condition like cellulitis.
B. Liver dysfunction primarily affects the metabolism and clearance of drugs rather than their distribution, although it may indirectly influence distribution by altering protein binding.
C. Peripheral vascular disease significantly impacts blood flow to the extremities, which can hinder the distribution of the antibiotic to the affected area (the left leg) where the cellulitis is present, leading to reduced drug efficacy.
D. Diverticulitis disease primarily affects the gastrointestinal system and would not directly influence the distribution of an antibiotic used to treat cellulitis in the leg.