Author Question: The nurse notes that a patient of African American descent who is taking an oral antihypertensive ... (Read 85 times)

sc00by25 · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

The nurse notes that a patient of African American descent who is taking an oral antihypertensive medication continues to have elevated blood pressure three months after beginning the medication regimen.

The nurse suspects that the patient may be
a. consuming ethnic foods that interfere with absorption of the drug.
b. discarding the medication.
c. experiencing allergic reactions to the medication.
d. metabolizing the drug differently than expected.

Question 2

The nurse is caring for an African-American patient who appears to understand instructions for self-care but does not carry out basic self-care tasks. The nurse understands that the patient may

a. be poorly educated and lack basic comprehension skills.
b. need more time and personal space to assimilate what is taught.
c. require the use of culturally appropriate words and phrases when teaching.
d. view illness as punishment and lack desire to change the outcome.

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

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
Certain classifications of medications have different effects in individuals whose genetic markers are predominantly characteristic of a certain biologic group. African Americans respond poorly to several classes of antihypertensive agents.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
African Americans may use a common style of speaking. This vernacular English may be quite different in some cases from standard English, so if things are misunderstood, it is possible that vernacular terminology may need to be used. This vernacular English does not mean that patients are poorly educated or uncommunicative. African Americans do not tend to need more space and do not necessarily view illness as punishment.