The nurse is conducting a presurgical interview when it is noted ...

[asan beg]

The nurse is conducting a presurgical interview when it is noted that the older adult patient's medication list includes Tylenol 650 mg four times a day for arthritic pain, gingko 80 mg twice a day, and glucosamine chondroitin 500 mg three times per day.
 
  The nurse proceeds to share with the client that in order to minimize the risk for postsurgical complications, there is the need to refrain from taking:
  a. glucosamine chondroitin for 1-2 weeks due to a potential for excess anesthetic sedation.
  b. ginkgo for 2 weeks due to the potential for increased bleeding.
  c. Tylenol for 24-48 hours due to the poten-tial for increased bleeding.
  d. gingko for 1 week due to the potential for an allergic reaction during surgery.

Question 2

When a nursing interview identifies that a client is daily taking doses of herbal supplements, the nurse's priority is to:
 
  a. evaluate the effectiveness of the herbal supplement self-treatment.
  b. determine why the client feels the need to take the herbal supplements.
  c. identify when the herbal supplementation began.
  d. discuss the client's knowledge regarding the herbal supplements' side effects.

[ambernicolefink]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
It is recommended that ginkgo be discontinued for 2 weeks preoperatively due to the potential for increased bleeding. There is no evidence that ginkgo is associated with allergic reactions dur-ing surgery. There are no recommendations for discontinuation of glucosamine chondroitin, and glucosamine is not associated with a potential for increased sedation from anesthetics. Tylenol is not associated with a potential for increased bleeding.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
The conversation about the client's use of herbal supplements should focus first on the client's understanding of the herbs' uses, side effects, dosage, and safety concerns. Once the therapeutic communication has established a nonjudgmental nature, the nurse can go on to if the client feels the supplements are effective, why the client feels the need to take the supplements, and when the supplements were started.