A combat veteran diagnosed with moderate traumatic brain injury ...

[colton]

A combat veteran diagnosed with moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) will begin pharmacologic therapies that include psychotropic medication. What information should the nurse provide? Select all that apply.
 
  a. We will monitor you closely for how each medication affects you.
  b. Medications can be expected to dramatically improve your symptoms.
  c. Please be patient as your health care provider identifies the best drugs for your problems.
  d. The blood levels of most medications you take will need to be checked with laboratory testing.
  e. Be prepared for frequent dose changes as your health care provider adjusts the dose to meet your needs.

Question 2

The nurse teaches a family who provides in-home care for a patient diagnosed with dementi
 
  a. Which measure to facilitate environmental safety should the nurse include?
  a. Install gates at the tops and bottoms of stairs.
  b. Store medications in a clearly visible place.
  c. Vary the daily schedule to provide variety and stimulation.
  d. Include daily activities that call for use of higher cognitive functions.

[ebe]

Answer to Question 1

A, C, E
Patients with TBIs are frequently overly sensitive to psychotropic medications, so close monitoring is important. However, TBI can also create drug resistance. As a consequence of both dynamics, medication adjustments are frequent and frustrating for the patient. Very few of the medications need serum monitoring; it would be misleading to say most do. It's important not to make promises related to how effective the drugs may or may not be.

Answer to Question 2

A
Patients with dementia often have difficulty negotiating stairs and fall. Providing gates prevents the patient from entering the stairs and falling. The other options do not apply, because they do not promote safety or might produce demands that exceed the patient's ability to function.

[colton]

Thank you

[ebe]

No problemo