Deck 109: Management of Poisoning

Question 1

A patient is brought to the emergency department after ingestion of an unknown substance. The patient has been vomiting and complains of abdominal pain. The nurse observes that the patient's oral mucous membranes are dry,the heart rate is 88 beats per minute,and the blood pressure is 90/60 mm Hg. The nurse will prepare to initially:

A) administer an antiemetic.
B) give activated charcoal.
C) infuse normal saline as an IV bolus.
D) obtain blood for toxicology testing.

Answer 1

infuse normal saline as an IV bolus.

Question 2

A nurse is teaching a patient who works with heavy metals and who is about to begin taking a chelating agent to treat heavy metal poisoning. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?

A) "This drug will not affect any metals already bound to cells in my body."
B) "This drug will bind with the metals to form less toxic molecules."
C) "This type of drug can block the metal from binding with molecules in my body."
D) "When the drug forms a chelate with the metal, the chelate can be excreted safely."

Answer 2

"This drug will not affect any metals already bound to cells in my body."

Question 3

A parent brings a child to the emergency department,because the child drank a solution containing ferrous sulfate. The nurse will prepare for:

A) administration of activated charcoal.
B) gastric lavage.
C) peritoneal dialysis.
D) whole-bowel irrigation.

Answer 3

whole-bowel irrigation.

Question 4

A child is admitted to the hospital after a routine lead screen reveals an elevated serum lead level. The prescriber has ordered edetate calcium disodium (calcium EDTA)as a chelating agent. During this drug treatment,the nurse will expect to:

A) collect a daily urine specimen.
B) give the medication on an empty stomach.
C) monitor the child's heart rate and blood pressure.
D) request orders for liver function tests.

Question 5

A pediatric patient ingested a narcotic analgesic at a grandparent's house 15 minutes before arriving in the emergency department. The nurse is preparing to administer activated charcoal. Which statement by the nurse is correct?

A) "The charcoal will cause the child's stools to be black."
B) "The charcoal should absorb about 37% of the drug."
C) "The charcoal will make the child vomit the medication."
D) "We will need to give the charcoal several times for it to work."

Question 6

A prescriber has ordered deferasirox [Exjade] to treat iron overload associated with chronic blood transfusions. The nurse learns that the patient takes cholestyramine to reduce cholesterol. The nurse will contact the provider to request an order to:

A) increase the cholestyramine dose.
B) increase the deferasirox dose.
C) monitor cholesterol levels.
D) monitor liver function tests.

Question 7

Which chelating agents can be used to treat iron toxicity? (Select all that apply.)

A) Calcium EDTA
B) Deferoxamine [Desferal]
C) Fomepizole [Antizole]
D) Penicillamine
E) Succimer [Chemet]

Question 8

An alert child is brought to the emergency department after ingesting gasoline. The nurse will prepare to administer which treatment to minimize poison absorption in this child?

A) Activated charcoal
B) Chelation therapy
C) Gastric lavage with aspiration
D) Whole bowel irrigation

Question 9

A patient overdosed on aspirin several hours ago and is brought to the emergency department. The nurse assists with supportive care and then asks the provider about an order for which drug?

A) Activated charcoal
B) Ammonium chloride
C) Fomepizole [Antizol]
D) Sodium bicarbonate

Question 10

A young patient is brought to the emergency department by friends,who say they found him unresponsive at his home. The prescriber suspects that the patient was poisoned. During the assessment,the man mumbles a word and becomes comatose. The nurse should immediately prepare to administer:

A) activated charcoal.
B) intravenous dextrose.
C) intravenous flumazenil [Romazicon].
D) syrup of ipecac.

Question 11

A patient will begin taking dimercaprol [BAL in Oil] for arsenic poisoning. The nurse performs a medical history on this patient. Which aspect of the patient's history would cause the most concern?

A) Anemia
B) Lead exposure
C) Peanut allergy
D) Peptic ulcer disease