Question 1

A client with Parkinson disease is admitted to the emergency department with increased tremors and muscle rigidity.Which herb would the nurse expect to find on the client's medication list?

Accepted Answer

Kava kava is an herb that has been traditionally used to treat anxiety and insomnia. It is also used to treat muscle spasms and tremors associated with Parkinson's disease.

Question 2

What is a benefit of adding dietary supplements to an older adult's treatment plan?

Accepted Answer

Older adults may have difficulty obtaining all the necessary nutrients through their diet alone, so adding dietary supplements can help prevent nutritional deficits.

Question 3

The nurse in a long-term care facility begins giving clients evening massages.Using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)in this manner would have which pharmacologic benefit for the clients?

Accepted Answer

Massages are known to decrease anxiety and stress levels, which could potentially result in a decreased need for antianxiety medication. CAM modalities such as massage therapy are often used as adjunct therapies to conventional medical treatments to improve overall patient outcomes. It is important to note that the use of CAM should be carefully considered and integrated into a comprehensive care plan.

Question 4

Which activity would support the client's use of mind-body interventions and require privacy?

Accepted Answer

Meditation is a mind-body intervention that requires privacy to achieve a state of relaxation and focus. It is important for the client to find a quiet, peaceful space where they will not be disturbed in order to fully benefit from the practice. Reading and praying may provide comfort and stress relief but do not necessarily require privacy. Aromatherapy may be practiced in either a private or public setting depending on the individual's preference.

Question 5

The nurse has noticed that more clients are asking about the use of herbal supplements to treat their symptoms.The nurse is aware that this could be related to which factor?

Accepted Answer

Aggressive marketing by the herbal industry has increased the awareness of herbal supplements as an alternative treatment option.

Question 6

The client asks the nurse how to compare the strengths of different brands of an herbal supplement.Which response by the nurse is the most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Standardization is a process that ensures that the amount of active ingredient in a herbal supplement is consistent from batch to batch. This allows consumers to compare the strengths of different brands of the same supplement.

Question 7

What is a legal requirement of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA)of 1994?

Accepted Answer

According to DSHEA, dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This disclaimer must be present on the label of all dietary supplements.

Question 8

A client experiencing occasional minor digestive problems asks the nurse about herbal therapy.Which herbs would the nurse recommend?
Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A client experiencing occasional minor digestive problems...

Question 9

A client with a history of depression is taking cyclosporine to prevent organ rejection.However,recent tests indicate the medication is losing effectiveness.The nurse should ask if the client is taking which herbal supplement?

Accepted Answer

St. John's wort is an herbal supplement that can interact with cyclosporine and reduce its effectiveness. Additionally, St. John's wort is known to have interactions with antidepressant medications and can exacerbate symptoms of depression. It is important for the nurse to ask the client if they are taking St. John's wort and to inform the healthcare provider of this potential interaction. Choices A, B, and D do not have known interactions with cyclosporine or depression.

Question 10

Which pharmacologic information about plants is most important for a client who plans to collect plants for herbal therapy?

Accepted Answer

It is important for clients to know that the active chemicals in a plant could be found in one or all parts of the plant. This will help them to properly harvest the plant and ensure that they are using the correct parts of the plant for their intended use. Additionally, clients should be aware that different parts of the same plant can have different properties and uses.

Question 11

Although attempts are being made to standardize the flavones in ginkgo,the nurse is aware this product can still be particularly dangerous for which clients?

Accepted Answer

Ginkgo has antiplatelet properties and can increase the risk of bleeding, especially when taken with anticoagulant drugs. It is important to caution clients about the potential for bleeding and to monitor them closely if they choose to take ginkgo while on anticoagulant therapy. The other options (A, C, and D) are not directly related to the potential dangers of ginkgo use.

Question 12

The nurse obtains information during the admission interview that a client is taking herbal supplements.What implications does this information have for the client's treatment?

Accepted Answer

The use of herbal supplements can potentially interact with prescribed medications, leading to adverse effects or decreased efficacy of the drug. It is important for the healthcare provider to know about any use of herbal supplements to ensure safe and effective treatment. Therefore, the nurse should consider potential drug-herb interactions when planning the client's treatment.

Question 13

A client is admitted with abnormal liver enzymes.Included in the client's medication list are amiodarone and echinacea.Which nursing action takes the highest priority?

Accepted Answer

The nurse should notify the healthcare provider as both amiodarone and echinacea are known to cause liver toxicity. The healthcare provider may need to adjust the client's medication regimen or order additional tests to evaluate the extent of the liver damage. Options A, B, and D may be appropriate interventions, but notifying the healthcare provider takes the highest priority.

Question 14

A male client states that he has been using the herbal product saw palmetto.Which assessment finding would indicate that the product is helpful?

Accepted Answer

Saw palmetto is commonly used by men to improve symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), such as difficulty initiating urination, weak urine flow, and incomplete bladder emptying. Therefore, a decrease in difficulty initiating urination would indicate that the product is helpful. A decrease in the frequency of headaches (A) or the ability to fall asleep quickly (C) are not typically associated with the use of saw palmetto. While less burning and pain with urination (B) may suggest an improvement in urinary tract symptoms, this is not necessarily specific to the use of saw palmetto and may also be indicative of other treatments.

Question 15

The nurse is advising a client about the proper use of herbal and dietary supplements.What is the responsibility of the nurse in recommending herbal products?

Accepted Answer

It is the responsibility of the nurse to be knowledgeable of the latest medical information on herbal products, including interactions and side effects. The nurse should provide unbiased information to the client and help them make an informed decision. Seeking information from alternative medicine practitioners or dissuading a client from using herbal products is not within the nurse's responsibility. The labeling on herbal products is not rigorously tested by the U.S.government, so it is not appropriate for the nurse to say the clients can trust it.

Question 16

A health care provider suggests that a client drink a glass of wine each evening to help prevent heart disease.The client's religious beliefs prohibit the consumption of alcohol in any form,but the client is willing to try an herbal supplement.What formulation should the nurse suggest the client avoid?

Accepted Answer

Tinctures are extracts of herbs that are made using alcohol as a solvent. Therefore, they would still contain the alcohol that the client's religious beliefs prohibit. Teas, decoctions, and infusions are typically made using water as a solvent, and therefore would not contain alcohol. However, the nurse should still check the specific ingredients of any herbal supplement to ensure they do not contain any other ingredients that may be prohibited by the client's religious beliefs.

Question 17

The client states that an herbal supplement is better" because it is standardized.What is the nurse's best response regarding standardization?

Accepted Answer

Standardization allows for a comparison of potency among herbal products, meaning that consumers can more easily compare and choose supplements that have consistent levels of active ingredients. It does not necessarily indicate that products were tested for efficacy, underwent clinical trials, or are FDA-approved.

Question 18

Which is an advantage to the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)for clients?

Accepted Answer

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) can sometimes reduce the need for medications by providing alternative ways to manage symptoms or improve health.

Question 19

The Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act of 2007 represented an update of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA).What was required in the marketing of dietary supplements as a result of this act?

Accepted Answer

The Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act of 2007 requires manufacturers to notify the FDA of serious adverse events reported by consumers. This helps to ensure that the FDA can take action if there are safety concerns with a particular supplement. While testing the safety of supplements and carrying a USP verification mark can help ensure quality and safety, these are not requirements under this particular act. Stating which conditions a product is designed to treat can be problematic, as it can lead to false claims about the effectiveness of a supplement for certain conditions. Therefore, this is not a requirement under the act.

Question 20

A client receiving warfarin (Coumadin)therapy is also using the herb feverfew.For what does the nurse assesses?

Accepted Answer

Feverfew has antiplatelet properties and can increase bleeding potential, which can exacerbate the anticoagulant effects of warfarin. Therefore, the nurse should assess for signs of bleeding, such as easy bruising and prolonged bleeding from minor cuts. It is important for the client to inform their healthcare provider of any herbal or alternative therapies they are using to prevent potential drug interactions or adverse reactions.

Quiz 7: The Role of Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Pharmacotherapy

A client with Parkinson disease is admitted to the emergency department with increased tremors and muscle rigidity.Which herb would the nurse expect to find on the client's medication list?

What is a benefit of adding dietary supplements to an older adult's treatment plan?

The nurse in a long-term care facility begins giving clients evening massages.Using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in this manner would have which pharmacologic benefit for the clients?

Which activity would support the client's use of mind-body interventions and require privacy?

The nurse has noticed that more clients are asking about the use of herbal supplements to treat their symptoms.The nurse is aware that this could be related to which factor?

The client asks the nurse how to compare the strengths of different brands of an herbal supplement.Which response by the nurse is the most appropriate?

What is a legal requirement of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994?

A client experiencing occasional minor digestive problems asks the nurse about herbal therapy.Which herbs would the nurse recommend? Select all that apply.