Author Question: A woman who is nursing a newborn develops postpartum depression and her provider orders sertraline ... (Read 63 times)

tth · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

A woman who is nursing a newborn develops postpartum depression and her provider orders sertraline Zoloft to treat her symptoms. The patient is concerned about the safety of this medi-cation for her infant.

What will the nurse tell her about this medication? a. To stop nursing while taking the medica-tion
b. To expect symptoms of colic and poor weight gain in the baby
c. That sertraline is safer than other antide-pressants for nursing mothers
d. To ask her provider about switching to fluoxetine Prozac instead

Question 2

A nurse is caring for a patient with cancer who has been undergoing chemotherapy. The patient has oral mucositis as a result of the chemotherapy, and the provider has ordered palifermin Ke-pivance.

Which is an appropriate nursing action when giving this drug? a. Administering the drug as a slow IV infu-sion
b. Flushing the IV line with heparin before infusing the drug
c. Giving the drug within 6 hours of the chemotherapy
d. Warning the patient about the potential for distortion of taste

AaaA · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

C
Sertraline is safer than other antidepressants for nursing women when used to treat postpartum depression. It is not necessary for her to stop nursing while taking the medication. Colic and poor weight gain occur with fluoxetine, which is not safe for nursing mothers.

Answer to Question 2

D
Palifermin is generally well tolerated but commonly causes reactions involving the skin and mouth, including taste distortion. The drug should be given as an IV bolus. Palifermin binds with heparin, so the IV line should not be flushed with heparin before giving palifermin. If the interval between administration of palifermin and the chemotherapeutic drugs is too short, palifermin ac-tually may increase the severity and duration of oral mucositis; therefore, palifermin should be given 24 hours before the chemotherapeutic drugs.