Author Question: An elderly patient is admitted to the medical unit after a fall. At home he is taking amitriptyline ... (Read 33 times)

asan beg · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

An elderly patient is admitted to the medical unit after a fall. At home he is taking amitriptyline (Elavil) 20 mg three times per day. What adverse effect could be related to the patient's fall?

A) Urinary frequency
B) Urinary retention
C) Visual disturbances
D) Orthostatic hypotension

Question 2

A primiparous woman tells the nurse that she and her partner are highly reluctant to have their infant vaccinated, stating, We've read that vaccines can potentially cause a lot of harm, so we're not sure we want to take that risk.

How should the nurse respond to this family's concerns? A) Vaccinations are not without some risks, but these are far exceeded by the potential benefits.
B) The potential risks of vaccinations have been investigated and determined to be nonexistent.
C) Unfortunately, state laws mandate that your child receive the full schedule of vaccines.
D) Vaccines indeed cause several serious adverse effects, but these are usually treated at the site where your child receives the vaccination.

rleezy04 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

D
Feedback:
Orthostatic hypotension is an adverse effect related to amitriptyline (Elavil). Urinary retention (not frequency) is an adverse effect of amitriptyline but is not related to the falls. Visual disturbances are not a common adverse effect.

Answer to Question 2

A
Feedback:
Mild reactions to vaccinations are common, but serious reactions are rare. Consequently, the benefits of vaccinations exceed the risks. Parental choice is still respected in most instances.