When taking a health history, the nurse asks a patient about taking over-the-counter medications. The patient reports taking large doses of aspirin to relieve daily headaches. This comment should alert the nurse to further assess the patient's hearing for which reason?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Aspirin can be ototoxic, meaning it can cause damage to the inner ear leading to hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Therefore, the nurse should assess the patient's hearing to monitor for any potential hearing problems that may be associated with the large doses of aspirin.

When Taking a Health History, the Nurse Asks a Patient