Prioritization/Miscellaneous
Among patients presenting with PCP overdose, this patient should be prioritized for immediate intervention:
A. A patient experiencing hallucinations
B. A patient with a heart rate of 110 bpm
C. A patient with shallow respirations and cyanosis
D. A patient exhibiting aggressive behavior
Who is the patient with shallow respirations and cyanosis?
Before initiating or refilling a prescription for this anxiolytic, the nurse’s priority assessment should be to ask about this recent patient behavior or substance use.
What is alcohol or other CNS depressant use?
Patients with porphyria should avoid this classification of drugs, as they can induce hepatic enzymes and potentially trigger a life-threatening attack.
What are benzodiazepines or barbiturates?
In patients withdrawing from alcohol, this potentially fatal condition, characterized by delirium, agitation, and seizures, typically occurs within 48 to 72 hours of cessation and requires immediate medical intervention.
What is delirium tremens (DTs)?
These three classes of antidepressants differ in their mechanisms: one inhibits the breakdown of multiple neurotransmitters, another selectively blocks serotonin reuptake, and the third inhibits reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine.
What are MAOIs, SSRIs, and SNRIs?
When a patient presents with acute anxiety symptoms, the nurse’s first priority should be to ensure this basic physiological function is stable, as it can be exacerbated by anxiety and may lead to life-threatening complications if not addressed promptly.
What is airway, breathing, and circulation (ABC)?
When assessing a patient who has been started on haloperidol, the nurse may identify this nursing diagnosis, considering the drug’s potential to cause extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), tardive dyskinesia, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).
What is "at risk for safety"?
Unlike benzodiazepines and opioids, this anxiolytic is not habit-forming, does not cause sedation, and is considered safer for long-term use in patients with a history of substance abuse or addiction.
What is buspirone (buspar)?
This opioid antagonist should be administered to an overdose patient who presents with respiratory depression, pinpoint pupils, and unresponsiveness—but with caution, as it may also precipitate these symptoms in opioid-dependent individuals.
What is naloxone (narcan)?
SNRIs work by inhibiting the reuptake of these two neurotransmitters, increasing their levels in the synaptic cleft to improve mood and alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.
What are serotonin and norepinephrine?
When assisting with procedural sedation, the nurse must ensure that this life-saving equipment is immediately available at the bedside.
What is resuscitation and airway management equipment (e.g., bag-valve mask, suction, oxygen, and emergency intubation kit)?
—used to manage airway compromise or respiratory arrest—
In the evaluation phase, the nurse assesses the effectiveness of clonidine in managing opioid withdrawal symptoms by monitoring this specific symptom to ensure the drug is reducing sympathetic nervous system activity.
What is withdrawal-related hypertension or agitation?
Abruptly discontinuing an antipsychotic medication can lead to the return of psychotic symptoms and may also cause these physical and psychological effects, including agitation, insomnia, and nausea.
What is withdrawal syndrome or symptom rebound?
Though it reverses sedation, this antidote for benzodiazepine overdose must be used with extreme caution, especially in patients with chronic benzodiazepine use, due to the risk of this life-threatening complication.
What is seizures?
Before starting a patient on an MAOI, the nurse’s priority assessment should include screening for this dietary restriction, as the patient must avoid foods containing high levels of this substance to prevent hypertensive crisis.
What is tyramine?
This inhaled anesthetic agent, known for its rapid onset and offset, is administered via this route and requires a specialized vaporizer due to its low boiling point.
What are desflurane (suprane)?
Withdrawal from opioids can cause symptoms such as (list three):
What is severe anxiety, agitation, tachycardia, and increased blood pressure s/s in opioid withdrawal, while withdrawal from benzodiazepines may lead to symptoms like sweating, yawning, and muscle pain, but typically does not include the same level of life-threatening risks.
This short-acting intravenous anesthetic is commonly used for induction of anesthesia in emergency settings due to its rapid onset and minimal effects on the cardiovascular system, but it can cause this adrenal-related side effect when used long-term (list drug& adverse effect).
What are etomidate (amidate) and adrenal suppression?
When administering this drug for anesthesia induction during surgery, the nurse's top priorities include:
What is HR, RR, heart rhythm, pulse ox & blood pressure?
Trazodone affects these neurotransmitters in the brain to help improve mood and alleviate symptoms of depression (list at least two)
What are serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine and histamine?
Both opioids and benzodiazepines primarily exert their effects on this neurotransmitter in the brain, leading to sedation, relaxation, and euphoria, but also increasing the risk of respiratory depression and overdose when combined.
What is GABA?
In a patient prescribed methadone for opioid withdrawal who is suspected of having a paralytic ileus, the nurse's priority education should focus on this potential adverse effect of methadone, which could exacerbate the ileus and lead to severe complications.
What is constipation?
Amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, is contraindicated in patients with one of these conditions, as it can exacerbate symptoms or lead to serious complications such as arrhythmias.
What are acute myocardial infarction (MI) and narrow-angle glaucoma and pregnancy?
To ensure both efficacy and safety when using this mood stabilizer, clinicians should monitor blood levels at specific times—typically measuring just before the next dose and occasionally shortly after dosing.
What are peak & trough?
These three anesthetic drugs differ in scope: one numbs a specific area without affecting consciousness, another provides sedation and pain control for minor procedures while maintaining airway reflexes, and the third induces complete unconsciousness and loss of sensation for major operations.
What are xylocaine (lidocaine), etomidate (amidate)/ketamine (ketalar)/propofol (diprivan)/thiopental/nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and etomidate (amidate)/ketamine (ketalar)/propofol (diprivan)