Author Question: An hour after taking a medication, a nurse notes that the patient displays urticaria and pruritus. ... (Read 60 times)

burton19126 · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

An hour after taking a medication, a nurse notes that the patient displays urticaria and pruritus. The nurse's priority action for this patient would be to

a. leave the patient to call the prescriber.
b. assess for changes in respiratory pattern and wheezing.
c. document the findings.
d. administer epinephrine to the patient STAT.

Question 2

A nurse is caring for a patient taking chlorpromazine (Thorazine) who is to be discharged from the hospital. What information about chlorpromazine (Thorazine) would be most important for the nurse to include in the discharge teaching?

a. Do not drive for 6 months.
b. Avoid excessive exposure to sunlight and wear sunscreen.
c. This medication may actually enhance your libido.
d. Monitor your blood pressure frequently to avoid hypertension.

Tonny · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

B
Patients who develop urticaria (hives) and pruritus are at risk for anaphylaxis, which would be indicated by bronchoconstriction and wheezing. Note: As a test strategy, when answering a priority question, make sure you go through the ABCs, then other physiological priorities, then safety and security priorities, then love and belonging priorities. This is clearly an ABC priority.
Never leave the patient, because the allergic reaction may precipitate anaphylaxis, and you would need to assess for changes in respiratory status.
Simply documenting the findings ignores the patient risk for anaphylaxis.
Epinephrine should be administered only in the event of anaphylaxis.

Answer to Question 2

B
Drugs in the phenothiazine class, such as chlorpromazine, can sensitize the skin to ultraviolet light and increase the risk of severe sunburn. Patients should be instructed to avoid excessive exposure to sunlight, to apply sunscreen, and to wear protective clothing when outside.
Chlorpromazine has no effect on a patient's ability to drive a car.
Antipsychotic agents, such as chlorpromazine, can actually impair the libido, orgasm, and ejacu-lation.
Orthostatic hypotension, not hypertension, is a side effect of antipsychotics such as chlorproma-zine.