Author Question: The primary care nurse practitioner (NP) is using critical thinking skills when: a. using ... (Read 54 times)

fbq8i · **on:** Jul 24, 2018

The primary care nurse practitioner (NP) is using critical thinking skills when:

a. using standardized protocols to guide patient care.
b. adhering to scientific principles to solve a patient problem.
c. following the practices of seasoned mentors when giving care.
d. analyzing current research and synthesizing new approaches to patient care.

Question 2

A patient who has been taking digoxin 0.25 mg daily for 6 months reports that it is not working as well as it did initially. The primary care NP should:

a. recommend a reduced potassium intake.
b. increase the dose of digoxin to 0.5 mg daily.
c. hold the next dose of digoxin and obtain a serum digoxin level.
d. contact the patient's pharmacy to ask if generic digoxin was dispensed.

Dinolord · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 24, 2018

Answer to Question 1

D
Practitioners use critical thinking skills by reviewing and analyzing current knowledge and synthesizing approaches to apply to unique patient situations. Using standardized protocols, adhering to scientific principles, and following practices of seasoned mentors may be useful, but these do not encompass the concept of critical thinking, which requires the practitioner to use what is known in new situations.

Answer to Question 2

D
Clinicians should be aware that generic digoxin marketed by different companies may not be bioequivalent to the branded digoxin (Lanoxin). Patients with hyperkalemia would show intensified effects, not diminished effects of digoxin. Patients with diminished effects may have received a generic brand. It is not correct to increase the dose of digoxin without first obtaining a digoxin level. Because this patient is reporting decreased effects, it is unnecessary to suspect toxicity.