The nurse is caring for a 30-year-old American Indian female who ...

[joe]

The nurse is caring for a 30-year-old American Indian female who is taking Rifater, a drug containing rifampin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide. The patient asks how long she will have to take the medication.
 
  Which response explains when the patient may discontinue the medication?
  a. When the sputum culture comes back negative
  b. When the medication has been taken for 9 months
  c. When three consecutive sputum cultures are negative
  d. When the tuberculin skin test (TST) is no longer positive

Question 2

Which technique should the nurse employ to best assess skin turgor?
 
  a. Examine mucous membranes of the mouth.
  b. Compare limbs for similar color.
  c. Pinch a skinfold on chest to assess for tenting.
  d. Palpate the ankles for evidence of pitting edema.

[aprice35067]

Answer to Question 1

C
This drug is given to treat active tuberculosis (TB). The active TB patient is considered noncon-tagious when three consecutive sputum cultures are negative. Taking the medication for a given period of time does not make the patient noncontagious. The TST will always be positive.

Answer to Question 2

C
Skin turgor can be assessed by tenting the skin on the chest and recording the speed at which the tent subsides.

[joe]

Correct answers!

[aprice35067]

Great! Please up vote