A 73-year-old male with Parkinson's disease comes to the clinic ...

[beccaep]

A 73-year-old male with Parkinson's disease comes to the clinic for routine care. The man has a comorbidity of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). An anticholinergic drug is prescribed for the patient.
 
  What is the priority teaching point the nurse must give to the patient in regard to his medication? A) Avoid excessively hot environments.
  B) Avoid driving his car while taking the drug.
  C) Call his doctor if he cannot urinate.
  D) Take the drug with food to avoid gastrointestinal (GI) upset.

Question 2

What is the responsibility of the nurse related to the patient's drug therapy? (Select all that apply.)
 
  A) Teaching the patient how to cope with therapy to ensure the best outcome
  B) Providing therapy as well as medications
  C) Evaluating the effectiveness of therapy
  D) Altering the drug regimen to optimize outcome
  E) Recommending appropriate over-the-counter medications to treat adverse effects of prescription drug therapy

[nguyenhoanhat]

Answer to Question 1

C
Feedback:
Due to the patient's diagnosis and drug therapy, calling the doctor if he cannot urinate would be the most important instruction. Older men with BPH have difficulty urinating and if an anticholinergic drug is taken, this can lead to urinary retention and bladder sphincter spasm. The patient should be encouraged to empty his bladder before taking the drug. Because this is an anticholinergic drug, avoiding hot environmental temperatures (reduced ability to perspire) and driving or operating machinery (possible central nervous system effects) should also be encouraged as well as taking the medication with food to help with GI upsets. However, the highest priority is addressing urinary retention issues.

Answer to Question 2

A, B, C
Feedback:
A nurse is, therefore, a key health care provider who is in a position to assess the whole patient, to administer therapy as well as medications, to teach the patient how best to cope with the therapy to ensure the most favorable outcome, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy. Nurses do not alter drug therapy or recommend over-the-counter medications because prescribing is outside the nurse's scope of practice.

[beccaep]

Excellent

[bdobbins]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it