Deck 19: Over-the-Counter Drugs

Question 1

Which important points should the nurse teach a patient about using herbal preparations? Select all that apply.

A) Check active and inactive ingredients.
B) Discontinue use if side effects or adverse effects occur.
C) Buying from online sources is preferable and cheaper.
D) Avoid herbals during pregnancy and breast-feeding.
E) Inform your health care provider about the use of herbals.

Answer 1

Check active and inactive ingredients.
Discontinue use if side effects or adverse effects occur.
Avoid herbals during pregnancy and breast-feeding.
Inform your health care provider about the use of herbals.

Question 2

A patient asks, "I want to consult an herbalist. What should I do to make sure I don't get some impostor?" The nurse should advise the patient to first ask the provider:

A) "How much will treatments cost?"
B) "Have you treated this condition before?"
C) "Do the treatments pose any dangers to me?"
D) "What group has certified you in this practice?"

Answer 2

"What group has certified you in this practice?"

Question 3

A patient diagnosed with a history of depression disorder tells the nurse, "My primary-care provider told me to start taking fish oil capsules to prevent heart disease. Will it cause problems with my mental illness?" Select the nurse's best response.

A) "It will not cause problems. It may actually help with your depressed feelings."
B) "I cannot discuss recommendations you received from another health care provider."
C) "It would be better for you to take vitamins C and E. I will notify your primary-care provider."
D) "Please have your primary-care provider call me so we can discuss issues related to this preparation."

Answer 3

"It will not cause problems. It may actually help with your depressed feelings."

Question 4

A nurse assesses four new patients. Which statement causes the nurse to suspect the patient may be self-medicating with an alternative therapy?

A) "I frequently have skin rashes that itch."
B) "Constipation is an everyday problem for me."
C) "My computed tomography scan shows that I have uterine fibroid tumors."
D) "I've been very depressed and anxious since I lost my job."

Question 5

A patient tells the nurse, "I've been having problems with my memory. I read some information on the Internet and started taking gingko." Select the nurse's best response.

A) "The Internet does not have reliable health information."
B) "More recent studies indicate that gingko does not help memory problems."
C) "SAM-e has been shown to have better effects for treating memory problems."
D) "Your memory problems are related to your mental illness. Herbs will not help."

Question 6

Select the desired outcome for a patient who uses valerian. The patient will report:

A) a lower stress level.
B) undisturbed sleep throughout the night.
C) an increased interest in recreational activities.
D) awakening without an alarm clock in the morning.

Question 7

A patient with which disorder would most likely benefit from taking St. John's wort?

A) Suicidal depression
B) Hypomanic symptoms
C) Mild depressive symptoms
D) Panic disorder with agoraphobia

Question 8

A patient reports frequent sleep disturbances. Which preparations could be considered to help improve the patient's sleep pattern? Select all that apply.

A) Yohimbine
B) Vitamin C
C) Melatonin
D) Valerian
E) SAM-e

Question 9

Alternative therapy refers to:

A) any natural therapy without a research basis.
B) evidence-based pharmacologic use of plant products.
C) therapies used in conjunction with Western medicine.
D) therapies not generally accepted by Western medicine.

Question 10

A patient takes valerian. Which instruction should the nurse provide?

A) Store the herb in a cool place.
B) Store the herb in a dry, dark place.
C) This herb loses potency after 30 days.
D) Avoid crushing the herb before taking it.

Question 11

An anxious patient diagnosed with diabetes says, "I'm considering taking angelica to help me relax." Select the best outcome for the plan of care. The patient will:

A) report subjective feelings of improved sleep.
B) identify other options to manage anxiety.
C) monitor fingerstick blood glucose daily.
D) rate anxiety as 5 or less on a scale of 10.

Question 12

During an admission interview, a patient who reports high levels of anxiety says, "I've been using kava-kava for about a week to relieve anxiety." When the nurse assesses mental status, expected findings would be:

A) reduced coordination and slurred speech.
B) intact cognitive functioning.
C) slow response times.
D) paranoid thinking.

Question 13

Which intervention is an example of a complementary and alternative medicine therapy?

A) Acupuncture
B) Bright-light therapy
C) Electroconvulsive therapy
D) Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

Question 14

A patient diagnosed with depression tells the nurse, "I've been supplementing my paroxetine (Paxil) with St. John's wort, and it has helped a great deal." What is the nurse's priority action?

A) Assess changes in the patient's level of depression.
B) Remind the patient to use a secondary form of birth control.
C) Educate the patient about the risks of serotonin syndrome.
D) Suggest adding valerian to the treatment regimen to further improve results.

Question 15

A patient reports taking melatonin daily. Which aspect of the patient's health and function would be most important for the nurse to assess?

A) Urinary and bowel elimination
B) Energy and activity tolerance
C) Sleep hygiene and patterns
D) Memory and cognition

Question 16

A patient who takes phenytoin (Dilantin) regularly has begun taking valerian. Patient teaching should focus on which possible consequence of the patient's action?

A) Breakthrough seizures
B) Spontaneous bleeding
C) Impaired dentition
D) Gum disease

Question 17

A neighbor asks a nurse, "Are there any resources that would help me get reliable information about alternative and complementary therapies?" Which resource should the nurse recommend?

A) National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
B) American Psychiatric Association
C) American Medical Association
D) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Question 18

For which patient co-morbid diagnosis would it be most important for the nurse to urge the patient to immediately discontinue using kava-kava?

A) Cirrhosis
B) Osteoarthritis
C) Multiple sclerosis
D) Chronic back pain

Question 19

Select the example of complementary therapy.

A) St. John's wort used with valerian
B) Acupuncture used with disulfiram ( Antabuse )
C) Fluoxetine ( Prozac ) used with lorazepam ( Ativan )
D) Propranolol ( Inderal ) used with systematic desensitization