A patient is being assessed for the presence of pheochromocytoma. ...

[rachel9]

A patient is being assessed for the presence of pheochromocytoma. The nurse would prepare for which interventions? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Standard Text: Select all that apply.
 
  1. Monitoring blood pressure
  2. Monitoring bowel sounds
  3. Administration of phentolamine (Regitine)
  4. Rapid administration of normal saline
  5. Urinary catheterization to bypass prostatic enlargement

Question 2

The patient is receiving doxazosin (Cardura) for hypertension. He asks the nurse how the medication works. What is the nurse's best response?
 
  1. It works by causing your kidneys to excrete more urine.
  2. It works by making your heart work more efficiently.
  3. It works by making your blood vessels expand.
  4. It works by decreasing the release of your stress hormones.

[ladyjames123]

Answer to Question 1

1,3
Rationale 1: Pheochromocytoma affects blood pressure, so continuous monitoring is necessary.
Rationale 2: While monitoring bowel sounds is part of all ongoing assessment, it is not particular to pheochromocytoma.
Rationale 3: Sudden and marked reduction of blood pressure results when a patient with pheochromocytoma is administered phentolamine (Regitine) parenterally.
Rationale 4: Rapid administration of normal saline is treatment for hypotension. This patient will be hypertensive.
Rationale 5: A urinary catheter may be inserted, but this is not because of prostatic enlargement.

Global Rationale: Pheochromocytoma affects blood pressure, so continuous monitoring is necessary. Sudden and marked reduction of blood pressure results when a patient with pheochromocytoma is administered phentolamine (Regitine) parenterally. While monitoring bowel sounds is part of all ongoing assessment, it is not particular to pheochromocytoma. Rapid administration of normal saline is treatment for hypotension. This patient will be hypertensive. A urinary catheter may be inserted, but this is not because of prostatic enlargement.

Answer to Question 2

3
Rationale 1: Excreting more urine is an effect of diuretic medications.
Rationale 2: Increasing the efficiency of the heart is not an effect of doxazosin (Cardura).
Rationale 3: Doxazosin (Cardura) is selective for blocking alpha1-receptors in vascular smooth muscle, which results in dilation of arteries and veins.
Rationale 4: Decreasing the release of stress hormones is not an effect of doxazosin (Cardura).
Global Rationale: Doxazosin (Cardura) is selective for blocking alpha1-receptors in vascular smooth muscle, which results in dilation of arteries and veins. Excreting more urine is an effect of diuretic medications. Increasing the efficiency of the heart is not an effect of doxazosin (Cardura). Decreasing the release of stress hormones is not an effect of doxazosin (Cardura).