A patient who takes spironolactone for heart failure has begun ...

[rmenurse]

A patient who takes spironolactone for heart failure has begun taking digoxin (Lanoxin) for atrial fibrillation. The primary care NP provides teaching for this patient and asks the patient to repeat back what has been learned.
 
  Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching? a. I should avoid high-sodium foods.
  b. I should eat foods high in potassium.
  c. I need to take a calcium supplement every day.
  d. I should use a salt substitute while taking these medications.

Question 2

When prescribing a medication for a chronic condition, the primary care NP should tell the patient:
 
  a. to contact the pharmacy whenever refills are needed.
  b. that it is necessary to return to the clinic for each monthly refill of the medication.
  c. about the frequency of clinic visits necessary for the number of refills authorized.
  d. to ask the pharmacist to supply several months' worth of the medication at a time.

[Jmfn03]

Answer to Question 1

A
Patients should be taught to reduce their overall sodium intake by avoiding salty foods and not adding salt while cooking. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic and carries a risk of hyperkalemia, which can make the myocardium more sensitive to the effects of digoxin. Hypercalcemia can predispose the patient to digoxin toxicity. Salt substitutes are high in potassium.

Answer to Question 2

C
Nonscheduled drugs may be ordered with refills so that the patient does not have to be seen each time a refill is needed. It is important to determine how closely a patient should be monitored while taking a drug for a chronic condition and to let the patient know how frequently he or she needs to be seen. Patients may contact a pharmacy when they still have authorized refills to pick up, but this is determined by the clinician. Pharmacists usually cannot dispense more than 30 days' worth of a medication.

[rmenurse]

Both answers were spot on, thank you once again

[Jmfn03]

Great! Please up vote