The nurse is teaching a client who is being discharged from the hospital.The client will be going home on morphine sulfate therapy.The client tells the nurse that at home,the client was using St.John's wort as a natural treatment for depression,and asks if it is all right to continue taking this herb.What is the nurse's best response?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

St. John's wort can interact with many medications, including morphine sulfate. St. John's wort can decrease the effectiveness of morphine sulfate, which may result in inadequate pain relief. Therefore, it is important for the client to wait until they no longer need pain management before resuming St. John's wort. The nurse should recommend discussing any herbal supplements with the healthcare provider. Option A is incorrect because natural substances can still interact with other medications. Option B is judgemental and not helpful. Option D is incorrect because spacing out medications may not always prevent interactions. It is best to discuss any herbal supplements with the healthcare provider.

The Nurse Is Teaching a Client Who Is Being Discharged