A patient with a serum potassium level of 2.7 mEq/L will receive intravenous potassium to replace serum losses. The patient expresses anxiety about receiving the treatment, worried about potential side effects. How will the nurse address the patient’s concerns while administering the potassium safely?

A patient experiences a blood clot in one leg, and the provider has ordered a thrombolytic medication. The patient expresses concern about the high cost of the medication and asks the nurse if it is really necessary. How should the nurse respond to address both the medical importance of the medication and the patient’s financial concern?

The nurse is caring for a patient who will receive 10% calcium gluconate to treat a serum potassium level of 5.9 mEq/L. The nurse performs a drug history prior to beginning the infusion. Which drug taken by the patient would cause concern?

The order reads: Diltiazem 0.25 mg/kg bolus over 2 minutes, then 15 minutes later, rebolus with 0.35 mg/kg IV, and then start a maintenance infusion at 10 mg/h. The patient weighs 65 kg, and the available diltiazem for bolus administration is 25 mg/5 mL. Based on the patient’s weight, calculate the total bolus in milligrams. Then evaluate whether this dosage is appropriate for the patient’s clinical condition, given that the standard bolus dosing range for diltiazem is 0.25-0.35 mg/kg. Would you recommend administering the calculated dose, or would you suggest an adjustment?

The nurse is preparing to administer the first dose of hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg to a patient with a blood pressure of 160/95 mm Hg. The nurse notes that the patient had a urine output of 200 mL in the past 12 hours. Considering the patient’s current condition and the pharmacologic effects of hydrochlorothiazide, the nurse must develop a comprehensive plan of care. What action should the nurse take? 

A parent asks a nurse about giving diphenhydramine [Benadryl] to a child to relieve cold symptoms. Which response by the nurse is correct?

The nurse should instruct a patient to tapper off medication gradually and not suddenly stop taking antihypertensives in order to avoid which of the following?

The nurse discovers that the IV site has infiltrated on a patient receiving IV dopamine, a vasopressor. To prevent complications such as tissue necrosis, the nurse understands that which medication is used as an antidote for dopamine extravasation?

A patient with exercise-induced bronchospasm is being treated with a short-acting beta2 agonist inhaler. The nurse is coordinating the patient’s discharge plan and reviewing inhaler administration techniques to ensure optimal care at home. Which priority information will the nurse include in the discharge instructions regarding the use of the inhaler? Select all that apply.

After two months of following a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet, a patient’s total cholesterol level has decreased from 228 mg/dL to 212 mg/dL. Based on this information, what additional strategies could the nurse suggest to further reduce the patient’s cholesterol levels, and how might the patient evaluate the effectiveness of their current plan?