The nurse checks on a patient who has received sumatriptan ...

[CBme]

The nurse checks on a patient who has received sumatriptan (Imitrex) for treatment of a migraine headache. The patient reports moderate improvement in headache pain and reports feeling dizzy.
 
  The nurse notes a blood pressure of 160/85 mm Hg. Which action by the nurse is correct?
  a. Notify the provider of the dizziness.
  b. Notify the provider of the increased blood pressure.
  c. Plan to administer a second dose in 1 hour.
  d. Request an order for intranasal sumatriptan.

Question 2

The nurse is caring for a 6-year-old child who had surgery that morning. The child is awake and lying very still in bed and won't respond when the nurse asks about pain. The nurse will perform which action?
 
  a. Ask the child to rate the pain on a scale of 1 to 10.
  b. Encourage the child to request pain medication when needed.
  c. Evaluate the child's pain using an ouch scale.
  d. Plan to administer pain medication if the child begins to cry.

[princessflame2016]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Triptans can cause increased blood pressure, which is an adverse drug reaction and should be reported to the provider. Dizziness is a common side effect but not potentially life-threatening. The second dose should not be given if the patient is experiencing elevated blood pressure. Intranasal sumatriptan has the same adverse effects.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
Some children will not verbalize discomfort even when they have severe pain because they fear injections. Nurses may use an ouch scale or a faces scale to evaluate pain if the child won't respond. Waiting for severe pain is not appropriate.

[CBme]

Excellent

[tuate]

TYSM