Question 1

The patient has epilepsy and receives phenytoin (Dilantin). The patient has been seizure-free, and asks the nurse why he still needs blood tests when he is not having seizures. What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Phenytoin has a narrow therapeutic index, meaning the difference between an effective dose and a toxic dose is small, so blood levels need to be monitored to ensure safety and efficacy.

Question 2

The nurse is teaching a class for patients who have been recently diagnosed with epilepsy. The nurse determines that learning has occurred when the patients make which statements?

Accepted Answer

Epilepsy can be caused by head injuries, strokes, and sometimes the cause is unknown. Excessive stress and eating disorders are not direct causes of epilepsy.

Question 3

The young child has absence seizures. The physician has prescribed valproic acid (Depakene) syrup. The nurse has completed medication education with the child's mother and determines that learning has occurred when the mother makes which statement?

Accepted Answer

Valproic acid should not be mixed with carbonated beverages as it can cause the medication to release too quickly, potentially leading to irritation or reduced effectiveness.

Question 4

The patient tells the nurse that she has been taking phenytoin (Dilantin) for 2 years now and is still having too many side effects. She wants to stop taking it. What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Stopping phenytoin abruptly can lead to withdrawal seizures, so it is important to advise the patient not to stop the medication suddenly.

Question 5

The physician has prescribed phenytoin (Dilantin) for a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus. What does the nurse include in the plan of care for this patient?

Accepted Answer

Phenytoin can affect glucose metabolism and may lead to hyperglycemia, necessitating an increase in insulin for a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Question 6

A parent says to the nurse, "The doctor prescribed ethosuximide (Zarontin) for my child, who has absence seizures. What does this mean?" What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Ethosuximide (Zarontin) is specifically used to treat absence seizures, which are characterized by brief, sudden lapses in attention or staring spells.

Question 7

The patient is receiving Phenobarbital (Luminal) for control of seizures. The patient tells the nurse she plans to become pregnant. What is the best response of the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Phenobarbital is generally contraindicated in pregnancy due to potential risks to the fetus, and the patient should consult with her doctor to discuss safer alternatives.

Question 8

A person who stops talking mid-sentence and has a blank stare for 5 seconds would most likely be experiencing

Accepted Answer

A petit mal seizure, also known as an absence seizure, is characterized by a brief lapse in awareness, often with a blank stare, lasting a few seconds.

Question 9

The physician has ordered intravenous (IV) diazepam (Valium) for the patient in status epilepticus. During administration, which assessment by the nurse is most important?

Accepted Answer

Diazepam can cause respiratory depression, so monitoring the patient's respirations is crucial during administration.

Question 10

A parent states, "The doctors all say that my son's problem is epilepsy, but I don't think that is correct. I have never seen him jerk or thrash." What nursing response is indicated?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A parent states, "The doctors all say...

Question 11

The physician has ordered intravenous (IV) phenytoin (Dilantin). The nurse does not read the drug label and administers the medication intramuscularly (IM). What is the most likely response in the patient?

Accepted Answer

Phenytoin should not be administered intramuscularly due to the risk of local tissue damage and necrosis.

Question 12

The patient is receiving valproic acid (Depakene) for treatment of seizures. The patient has also been taking a daily 81 mg aspirin tablet prophylactically for a cardiac condition. What would the nurse be most likely to observe?

Accepted Answer

Valproic acid can increase the risk of bleeding, and when combined with aspirin, which also has anticoagulant effects, the patient is at a higher risk for bleeding complications such as bleeding gums and bruising.

Question 13

An older adult patient is taking phenobarbital (Luminal) for seizure control. What is most important for the nurse to assess in the patient?

Accepted Answer

Phenobarbital can cause respiratory depression, especially in older adults, so monitoring respiratory function is crucial.

Question 14

The physician has ordered intravenous phenytoin (Dilantin). The patient is also receiving 5% dextrose in water (D5W) intravenously (IV). What will the nurse plan to do before administering this medication?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The physician has ordered intravenous phenytoin (Dilantin)....

Question 15

Which of the following adverse effects would most likely be associated with the use of phenytoin (Dilantin)?

Accepted Answer

Phenytoin can cause gingival hyperplasia and interfere with vitamin K metabolism, leading to bleeding tendencies.

Question 16

The patient says to the nurse, "My doctor said I have epilepsy and need to take medicine for those seizures I had. Do I really need medicine?" What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Medication is typically necessary to control seizures in epilepsy, and it is usually taken on a continual basis to manage the condition effectively.

Question 17

The patient is receiving phenobarbital (Luminal) for seizure control. The patient asks the nurse how this little pill can stop his seizures. What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Phenobarbital enhances the action of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, which helps to calm down the excitability in the brain and control seizures.

Question 18

The nurse has been conducting medication education for a patient with epilepsy. What is the best outcome for this patient?

Accepted Answer

The best outcome is that the patient understands the importance of continuing antiseizure medication indefinitely to manage epilepsy effectively and prevent seizures.

Question 19

Identify the correct statement regarding seizures.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the correct statement regarding seizures.
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Question 20

A low-income patient without insurance has been prescribed several different medications over several months for seizure control without any improvement. The patient indicates she has not experienced any adverse effects. At this point the nurse should

Accepted Answer

The nurse should assess for medication compliance, as the lack of improvement could be due to the patient not taking the medications as prescribed, especially given the patient's low-income status and lack of insurance.

Quiz 15: Drugs for Seizures

The patient has epilepsy and receives phenytoin (Dilantin) . The patient has been seizure-free, and asks the nurse why he still needs blood tests when he is not having seizures. What is the best response by the nurse?