Author Question: A 73-year-old female client with Parkinson's syndrome was prescribed levodopa when other therapies ... (Read 94 times)

littleanan · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

A 73-year-old female client with Parkinson's syndrome was prescribed levodopa when other therapies had failed. The client is alarmed that her urine has become dark brown and is concern.

The nurse explains to the client that one of the side effects of this medication is that it may cause:
1. Her urine to become dark brown or black
2. Heart failure
3. Kidney failure
4. Hair loss

Question 2

A 45-year-old female client has been hospitalized for severe abdominal pain. The health care pro-vider has ordered a PCA pump for the client to help control the pain.

It has been determined that the pain is due to cholelithiasis and the client is scheduled for a cholecystectomy later that day. The client returns to the unit postoperatively with a Foley cathe-ter anchored. The nurse notes that the client's urine output has decreased. The nurse knows that this is most likely due to:
1. Stress response
2. Preoperative NPO status
3. Kidney failure
4. Post-operative urinary retention

chem1s3 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: 1
Some medications change the color of urine. Phenazopyridine (Pyridium) colors the urine a bright orange to rust; amitriptyline causes a green or blue discoloration, whereas levodopa discolors the urine to brown or black.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: 1
The stress response releases an increased amount of ADH, which increases water reabsorption. Stress also elevates the level of aldosterone, causing retention of sodium and water. Both of these substances reduce urine output in an effort to maintain circulatory fluid volume. Although the client was NPO postoperatively, she had a pain pump, which indicates that she had a running IV with fluids. It is not indicated that the client had kidney failure, and since the client had an anchored urinary catheter, she would not have urinary retention.