N316B Week 1 Questions With 100% Verified
Answers!!
Which adverse effect would the nurse continually assess for in a client receiving valproic
acid?
A. yellow sclerae
B. motor restlessness
C. ringing in the ears
D. torsion of the neck
A. yellow sclerae
Yellow sclerae are a sign of jaundice; pancreatitis and hepatic failure are life-threatening adverse
effects of valproic acid. The client must have frequent liver function tests. Motor restlessness
(akathisia) is associated with antipsychotic medications. Ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus)
is associated with aspirin. Torsion of the neck (torticollis) because of contracted cervical muscles
is associated with antipsychotic medications.
The nurse understands which antiepileptic medication would be used as the first-line
treatment for absence seizures?
A. Phenytoin
B. Diazepam
C. Valproic acid
D. Acetazolamide
C. Valproic acid
Valproic acid is used as the first-line treatment for absence seizures. Phenytoin is used to treat
partial, secondary, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Diazepam is used to treat status
epilepticus. Acetazolamide is used as an adjunct medication for the treatment of absence
seizures.
A client is diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia. Which non-analgesic can decrease the
client's pain?
,A. Echinacea
B. Leucovorin
C. Allopurinol
D. Carbamazepine
D. Carbamazepine
Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant that can be used to control neurological pain such as
trigeminal neuralgia. Echinacea is an herbal medication used by some to treat respiratory
infections, but not neuralgic pain. Leucovorin is used as rescue medication with methotrexate to
prevent cellular damage; it does not relieve neurological pain. Allopurinol is used in the
treatment of gout but does not relieve pain.
Which effect would the nurse monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of carbamazepine in the
management of a client's trigeminal neuralgia?
A. Pain intensity
B. Gait
C. Range of motion
D. Seizure activity
A. Pain intensity
Carbamazepine is administered to control pain by reducing transmission of nerve impulses in
clients with trigeminal neuralgia. This neurological condition isn't manifested by problems
associated with gait or range of motion. Carbamazepine is not administered to clients with
trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux) for its anticonvulsant properties because seizures are not
present with this disorder.
A school-age child with a seizure disorder has been on long-term carbamazepine therapy.
Which intervention would the nurse incorporate into the plan of care?
A. Assessing the mouth for gingivitis
B. Checking the pupillary reaction to light
C. Keeping an accurate intake and output record
D. Monitoring the child's complete blood cell counts
,D. Monitoring the child's complete blood cell count.
The side effects of carbamazepine include blood dyscrasias (e.g., thrombocytopenia, aplastic
anemia, leukopenia, agranulocytosis). A side effect of long-term phenytoin, not carbamazepine,
therapy is hyperplasia of the gingiva. Carbamazepine does not influence pupillary response
directly. Keeping an accurate intake and output is unnecessary.
The nurse teaches the client about effects of carbamazepine that would be reported to the
primary health care provider. Which effects would the nurse include? Select all that apply.
One, some, or all responses may be correct.
A. Nausea
B. Dizziness
C. Unusual bleeding or bruising
D. Sensitivity to bright light or sun
E. Breast enlargement
A. Nausea
C. Unusual bleeding or bruising
Nausea may be a side effect or it may signal toxicity. The client should be evaluated by the
primary health care provider. Carbamazepine can cause severe bone marrow depression; the
client should have weekly complete blood counts for the first 4 weeks of therapy and every 3 to 6
months thereafter. Dizziness is a common side effect of carbamazepine that does not require
primary health care provider notification. The client should be cautioned not to engage in
hazardous activities such as driving a car. Sensitivity to bright light or sun is not a side effect of
carbamazepine. Breast enlargement is not associated with carbamazepine.
The nurse is educating a client with seizure disorder about newly prescribed phenytoin.
Which statement should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Blood work will be required if you have a seizure while taking this medication
B. You will need to have routine visits with a dentist when taking this medication
C. It is normal to have a change in your gait when you first start this medication
D. Avoid grapefruit juice when taking this medication
, B. You will need to have routine visits with a dentist when taking this medication
Phenytoin is the first-line medication for the treatment of seizures. Clients should be instructed
that they will need routine lab work to ensure that they are at a therapeutic level with the
medication, even if they have been seizure-free. This medication can cause gingival hyperplasia,
which will require routine dental visits. The client does not need to avoid grapefruit juice with
this medication. Difficulty with hand and gait coordination could indicate toxicity and should be
reported to the healthcare provider.
A nurse is teaching parents of a child recently prescribed the medication phenytoin for
seizure control. Which side effect will the nurse include?
A. Hypertension
B. Insomnia
C. Gingival hyperplasia
D. Increased appetite
C. Gingival hyperplasia
Gingival hyperplasia (overgrowth of the gums) is a common side effect of phenytoin. Other
common side effects include ataxia, central nervous system depression, drowsiness, headache,
hypotension, mental confusion, nausea, vomiting, rash and nystagmus.
The nurse is caring for a child diagnosed with seizures. While teaching the family and the
child about the medication phenytoin, which concept should the nurse emphasize?
A. Omit the medication if the child is seizure-free
B. Serve a diet that is high in iron
C. A rash is normal with this medication
D. Maintain good oral hygiene and dental care
D. Maintain good oral hygiene and dental care
Gingival hyperplasia may occur with this medication. It is important that good oral hygiene is
maintained. The medication should never be stopped, even if the child is seizure-free. A sudden
discontinuation could result in status epilepticus. A diet high in iron interferes with phenytoin
Answers!!
Which adverse effect would the nurse continually assess for in a client receiving valproic
acid?
A. yellow sclerae
B. motor restlessness
C. ringing in the ears
D. torsion of the neck
A. yellow sclerae
Yellow sclerae are a sign of jaundice; pancreatitis and hepatic failure are life-threatening adverse
effects of valproic acid. The client must have frequent liver function tests. Motor restlessness
(akathisia) is associated with antipsychotic medications. Ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus)
is associated with aspirin. Torsion of the neck (torticollis) because of contracted cervical muscles
is associated with antipsychotic medications.
The nurse understands which antiepileptic medication would be used as the first-line
treatment for absence seizures?
A. Phenytoin
B. Diazepam
C. Valproic acid
D. Acetazolamide
C. Valproic acid
Valproic acid is used as the first-line treatment for absence seizures. Phenytoin is used to treat
partial, secondary, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Diazepam is used to treat status
epilepticus. Acetazolamide is used as an adjunct medication for the treatment of absence
seizures.
A client is diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia. Which non-analgesic can decrease the
client's pain?
,A. Echinacea
B. Leucovorin
C. Allopurinol
D. Carbamazepine
D. Carbamazepine
Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant that can be used to control neurological pain such as
trigeminal neuralgia. Echinacea is an herbal medication used by some to treat respiratory
infections, but not neuralgic pain. Leucovorin is used as rescue medication with methotrexate to
prevent cellular damage; it does not relieve neurological pain. Allopurinol is used in the
treatment of gout but does not relieve pain.
Which effect would the nurse monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of carbamazepine in the
management of a client's trigeminal neuralgia?
A. Pain intensity
B. Gait
C. Range of motion
D. Seizure activity
A. Pain intensity
Carbamazepine is administered to control pain by reducing transmission of nerve impulses in
clients with trigeminal neuralgia. This neurological condition isn't manifested by problems
associated with gait or range of motion. Carbamazepine is not administered to clients with
trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux) for its anticonvulsant properties because seizures are not
present with this disorder.
A school-age child with a seizure disorder has been on long-term carbamazepine therapy.
Which intervention would the nurse incorporate into the plan of care?
A. Assessing the mouth for gingivitis
B. Checking the pupillary reaction to light
C. Keeping an accurate intake and output record
D. Monitoring the child's complete blood cell counts
,D. Monitoring the child's complete blood cell count.
The side effects of carbamazepine include blood dyscrasias (e.g., thrombocytopenia, aplastic
anemia, leukopenia, agranulocytosis). A side effect of long-term phenytoin, not carbamazepine,
therapy is hyperplasia of the gingiva. Carbamazepine does not influence pupillary response
directly. Keeping an accurate intake and output is unnecessary.
The nurse teaches the client about effects of carbamazepine that would be reported to the
primary health care provider. Which effects would the nurse include? Select all that apply.
One, some, or all responses may be correct.
A. Nausea
B. Dizziness
C. Unusual bleeding or bruising
D. Sensitivity to bright light or sun
E. Breast enlargement
A. Nausea
C. Unusual bleeding or bruising
Nausea may be a side effect or it may signal toxicity. The client should be evaluated by the
primary health care provider. Carbamazepine can cause severe bone marrow depression; the
client should have weekly complete blood counts for the first 4 weeks of therapy and every 3 to 6
months thereafter. Dizziness is a common side effect of carbamazepine that does not require
primary health care provider notification. The client should be cautioned not to engage in
hazardous activities such as driving a car. Sensitivity to bright light or sun is not a side effect of
carbamazepine. Breast enlargement is not associated with carbamazepine.
The nurse is educating a client with seizure disorder about newly prescribed phenytoin.
Which statement should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Blood work will be required if you have a seizure while taking this medication
B. You will need to have routine visits with a dentist when taking this medication
C. It is normal to have a change in your gait when you first start this medication
D. Avoid grapefruit juice when taking this medication
, B. You will need to have routine visits with a dentist when taking this medication
Phenytoin is the first-line medication for the treatment of seizures. Clients should be instructed
that they will need routine lab work to ensure that they are at a therapeutic level with the
medication, even if they have been seizure-free. This medication can cause gingival hyperplasia,
which will require routine dental visits. The client does not need to avoid grapefruit juice with
this medication. Difficulty with hand and gait coordination could indicate toxicity and should be
reported to the healthcare provider.
A nurse is teaching parents of a child recently prescribed the medication phenytoin for
seizure control. Which side effect will the nurse include?
A. Hypertension
B. Insomnia
C. Gingival hyperplasia
D. Increased appetite
C. Gingival hyperplasia
Gingival hyperplasia (overgrowth of the gums) is a common side effect of phenytoin. Other
common side effects include ataxia, central nervous system depression, drowsiness, headache,
hypotension, mental confusion, nausea, vomiting, rash and nystagmus.
The nurse is caring for a child diagnosed with seizures. While teaching the family and the
child about the medication phenytoin, which concept should the nurse emphasize?
A. Omit the medication if the child is seizure-free
B. Serve a diet that is high in iron
C. A rash is normal with this medication
D. Maintain good oral hygiene and dental care
D. Maintain good oral hygiene and dental care
Gingival hyperplasia may occur with this medication. It is important that good oral hygiene is
maintained. The medication should never be stopped, even if the child is seizure-free. A sudden
discontinuation could result in status epilepticus. A diet high in iron interferes with phenytoin