Side Effects
A patient taking lisinopril develops a dry, persistent cough.
ACE inhibitor-induced cough
A patient taking warfarin asks if they should stop eating spinach.
No. Maintain a consistent intake of vitamin K.
Before administering metoprolol, what assessment is essential?
Apical heart rate and blood pressure.
What medication reverses opioid overdose?
Naloxone.
A patient receiving morphine has a respiratory rate of 8.
What is the priority nursing action?
Hold the medication and assess the patient; notify the RN/provider.
A patient taking digoxin reports nausea, anorexia, blurred yellow vision, and fatigue.
Digoxin toxicity.
A patient prescribed nitroglycerin asks where to keep the tablets.
In the original dark glass container, protected from light and moisture.
Before administering digoxin, what assessment is required?
Apical pulse for one full minute.
What medication reverses benzodiazepine overdose?
Flumazenil.
A patient receiving insulin becomes confused, shaky, and diaphoretic.
Priority?
Check blood glucose immediately.
A patient taking vancomycin becomes flushed with redness of the neck during infusion.
Red Man Syndrome from rapid infusion.
A patient prescribed ciprofloxacin asks if they can take it with yogurt.
No. Dairy decreases absorption.
Before administering regular insulin, what assessment is most important?
Current blood glucose level.
What medication reverses heparin?
Protamine sulfate.
A patient taking warfarin has an INR of 6.5.
Priority?
Hold warfarin and notify the provider.
A patient taking prednisone for several months has moon face, truncal obesity, and hyperglycemia.
Cushingoid effects of corticosteroids.
A patient taking metronidazole asks if one beer is okay.
No alcohol during therapy and for at least 48–72 hours after the last dose due to a disulfiram-like reaction.
Before administering furosemide, which lab value is most important?
Potassium.
What medication reverses warfarin?
Vitamin K (phytonadione).
A patient taking spironolactone has a potassium level of 5.9 mEq/L.
Priority?
Hold the medication and notify the provider due to hyperkalemia risk.
A patient receiving heparin suddenly develops severe abdominal pain, hypotension, tachycardia, and bruising.
Internal hemorrhage.
A patient is prescribed prednisone.
What important teaching prevents adrenal crisis?
Never stop the medication abruptly; it must be tapered unless otherwise directed.
Before administering vancomycin, what laboratory value should be reviewed?
Creatinine (renal function).
A patient develops anaphylaxis after receiving IV ceftriaxone.
What medication should be administered first?
Epinephrine.
A patient receiving a blood transfusion develops fever, chills, dyspnea, and flank pain.
What is the first nursing action?
Stop the transfusion immediately while maintaining IV access with normal saline using new tubing, then notify the provider and blood bank.