NCLEX : Side Effects
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Example Questions
Example Question #31 : Side Effects
You are the nurse taking care of a patient with intractable back pain. You are about to administer a dose of oxycodone and are describing possible side effects to the patient. Which of the following common side effects should you warn the patient about?
Constipation
Headache
Blindness
Serotonin syndrome
Tinnitus
Constipation
The correct answer is "constipation," as constipation is a very common side effect associated with use of opioid medications, such as oxycodone, especially in patients who have not been frequently treated with opioids in the past. As such, patients are often advised ahead of time about the possibility this side effect and may be started concurrently on stool softeners and colonic motility agents, such as senna and/or docusate.
Blindness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), headache, and serotonin syndrome all are not known to be associated with use of opioid medications, like oxycodone.
Example Question #81 : Nclex
You are the nurse taking care of a patient with severe hip pain that is unresponsive to acetaminophen and NSAIDs. You are prepare a dose of hydromorphone and describe potential side effects to the patient. Which of the following side effects should you warn the patient about?
Hair loss
Pruritis
Pharyngitis
Diarrhea
Foot pain
Pruritis
The correct answer is "pruritis." Pruritis, or itching, is a fairly common side effect of opioid medication use, and hydromorphone, also known as Dilaudid, is a potent opioid. As such, patients should be advised of this potential side effect prior to initiation of therapy, and should be advised to inform the nursing or medical care team if they experience pruritis, as dosing can be adjusted, and/or additional medications may be added to control the itchiness.
Neither hair loss, foot pain, pharyngitis, nor diarrhea are side effects known to be associated with opioid use.
Example Question #81 : Pharmacology
You are the nurse in a primary care clinic taking care of a 26-year old female with a urinary tract infection. You are counseling her about taking her antibiotic, cephalexin. You warn her that a common side effect is which of the following?
Headache
Diarrhea
Pharyngitis
Necrotizing skin rash
Hair loss
Diarrhea
The correct answer is "diarrhea." Diarrhea is a common side effect associated with antibiotic use, including cephalexin. This diarrhea is typically self-limited and resolves within the first day or two of administration. Sometimes patients are advised to take a probiotic or consume yogurt when starting a new antibiotic if they experienced diarrhea when starting antibiotics in the past.
Neither headaches, hair loss, pharyngitis, nor necrotizing skin rash are known common side effects of cephalexin use.
Example Question #81 : Nclex
You are the nurse in a dermatology clinic taking care of a 22-year old female with severe nodular acne. She is going to start isotretinoin therapy after this appointment. She should be strictly advised to avoid which of the following?
Eating bananas
Eating grain products
Taking NSAID's
Pregnancy
Drinking juices
Pregnancy
The correct answer is "pregnancy." Patients initiating isotretinoin therapy should all be strictly advised to avoid becoming pregnant, and must absolutely not be started on isotretinoin therapy if they are actively pregnant. Isotretinoin is a potent teratogenic agent, and could cause devastating effects to a developing fetus, including but not limited to termination of the pregnancy. Any female patient who is going to start isotretinoin therapy must be tested for pregnancy immediately prior to therapy and repeatedly throughout treatment.
There is no known significant interaction between isotretinoin and NSAID use. Likewise, there is no reason why a patient on isotretinoin must avoid bananas, grains, or juices.
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