A hospital patient's physician has prescribed quetiapine (Seroquel) to be administered at bedtime.
Being unfamiliar with the medication, the nurse has looked it up in a nursing drug manual and noted that the drug is an antipsychotic that is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The patient has no psychiatric history, and upon questioning, the physician states that it is being prescribed to help the patient fall asleep at night. How should the nurse best understand this practice?
A) This off-label use of the drug is prohibited by federal laws and professional practice standards.
B) This is an appropriate use of the drug, provided it is supported by the literature.
C) This is acceptable if the patient has failed to respond adequately to conventional sleep aids.
D) This is a practice that may negate the physician's and nurse's liability insurance.
Question 2
A woman with numerous chronic health problems has been diagnosed with a benign gastric ulcer has begun treatment with ranitidine (Zantac). Which of the following teaching points should the nurse provide to this patient?
A) Quitting smoking will significantly increase the chance that this drug will heal your ulcer.
B) This drug will help to eliminate the bacteria in your stomach that caused your ulcer.
C) You should eat several small meals each day rather than three larger meals.
D) Take each dose of ranitidine with an antacid of your choice.
A sample prescription written by a physician.
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