A patient comes to the clinic for an appointment. The patient is ...

[stevenposner]

A patient comes to the clinic for an appointment. The patient is to begin taking metronidazole (Flagyl) for a protozoal infection. The nurse provides patient education.
 
  What statements by the patient most indicate a need for further teaching? (Select all that apply.)
  a. I may experience nausea, diarrhea, and headache.
  b. I should report numbness in my extremities.
  c. I may experience large amounts of dilute urine.
  d. I should expect the medication to cause sores appear in my mouth.
  e. I may experience a metallic taste in my mouth.

Question 2

A patient who has just returned to the United States from a trip to a region in which malaria is endemic is admitted to the hospital.
 
  The patient is diagnosed with malaria, high doses of mefloquine (Lariam) are prescribed for chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. After 3 days, the nurse assigned to the patient is preparing to administer a dose of the medication when the patient begins to complain of dizziness (vertigo) and confusion and displays symptoms of psychosis. The nurse recognizes these symptoms as ______________ and should _________.
  a. findings consistent with malaria; administer the medication
  b. toxicity; hold the medication and have a blood sample drawn for measurement of the drug level
  c. an adverse effect; discontinue the medication
  d. a side effect of the medication; monitor the patient closely

[dlook33]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C, D
The patient should expect to have dark urine, not dilute (colorless) urine; further teaching is required. The medication does not cause sores to appear in the mouth.
The patient may indeed experience nausea, diarrhea, and headache; no further teaching is required.
Numbness in the extremities should be reported, because it may indicate neurologic effects; no further teaching is required.
A metallic taste in the mouth is an expected effect of metronidazole; no further teaching is required.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
The nurse should recognize these symptoms as an adverse effect and the medication should be discontinued. These symptoms may occur with high doses of mefloquine.
The findings most commonly seen in patients with malaria are gastrointestinal disturbances, nightmares, altered vision, and headache.
There is no evidence of toxicity; an adverse effect has occurred.
The signs and symptoms are not consistent with a side effect of the medication. The intervention required is drug removal.

[stevenposner]

Thanks

[dlook33]

Welcome