Patient Teaching

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Sample questions from Patient Teaching

This material has 90 questions with answers and rationales. Here are the first 5.

1. 1.During a home visit, a 72-year-old client with heart failure says, "I take my furosemide whenever my ankles look puffy." The client is alert, has a BP of 118/70 mm Hg, and reports urinating frequently at night. Which teaching should the nurse provide first?

   • A.Take the medication at bedtime so fluid does not collect during the day.
   • B.Take the prescribed dose in the morning and track weight daily under similar conditions.
   • C.Double the dose after a day when you eat salty food.
   • D.Skip the next dose if the ankles are not swollen when you wake up.

   Rationale: Taking the prescribed dose in the morning and tracking daily weight supports consistent treatment while reducing nocturia and helping detect fluid retention early. Skipping doses based on visible swelling can delay recognition of worsening heart failure, and bedtime dosing is likely to worsen nighttime urination. Doubling a dose without a prescription risks dehydration, hypotension, and electrolyte abnormalities.

2. 2.In a pediatric clinic, the parent of a 4-year-old prescribed a liquid antibiotic says, "My child spits it out, so I mix the medicine into a full cup of juice." The child is afebrile, has a HR of 104/min, and is drinking less than usual. Which instructions should the nurse include? Select all that apply.

   • A.Give an extra dose if the child spits out any of the medicine.
   • B.Call the clinic if the child cannot keep doses down or has fewer wet diapers.
   • C.Mix the dose into a small amount of a food or liquid the child will finish, if the pharmacist confirms it is compatible.
   • D.Store the antibiotic according to the pharmacy label and keep it out of the child's reach.
   • E.Stop giving the antibiotic once the child's fever is gone.
   • F.Use an oral syringe to measure the prescribed dose.

   Rationale: An oral syringe improves dose accuracy, and a small amount of compatible food or liquid helps ensure the full dose is taken. Inability to retain doses or decreased urine output warrants follow-up because the child is drinking less than usual, and medication storage should follow the label with secure storage. Stopping when the fever resolves can leave the infection undertreated, while automatically repeating a spit-out dose risks giving too much.

3. 3.At change of shift on a medical unit, a 58-year-old client with a new colostomy is scheduled for discharge. The client can empty the pouch but cannot explain how to recognize a stoma complication; the client's spouse offers to perform all ostomy care. Which action is best before discharge?

   • A.Give the client a written ostomy guide and ask the client to review it at home.
   • B.Ask the spouse to demonstrate pouch care and arrange discharge once the spouse succeeds.
   • C.Request that the provider delay discharge until the client can perform every step without assistance.
   • D.Assess the client's learning needs and ability to perform care, then provide instruction and confirm understanding with teach-back.

   Rationale: The client needs an individualized assessment and teaching that includes recognizing complications, with understanding verified by teach-back before discharge. Relying only on the spouse may not meet the client's needs or preferences, and written material alone does not confirm comprehension. Delaying discharge until the client performs every step independently is not necessary if a safe, agreed-upon support plan can be arranged.

4. 4.In an outpatient anticoagulation clinic, a 16-year-old taking warfarin for a mechanical valve has an INR of 4.8 (therapeutic range 2.0-3.0) and reports a nosebleed that stopped after 10 minutes of pressure. The teen asks whether to skip tonight's dose. Which response is best?

   • A.Take vitamin K from a multivitamin to bring the INR down.
   • B.Hold the dose and restart tomorrow at half the usual amount.
   • C.Do not change the dose independently; contact the anticoagulation prescriber now for instructions and seek urgent care for recurrent or severe bleeding.
   • D.Continue the usual dose because the bleeding has stopped.

   Answer and rationale are in the full material.

5. 5.A client's potassium is 6.1 mEq/L (reference range 3.5-5.0 mEq/L) on the morning of discharge. The 67-year-old client with chronic kidney disease is alert, has a BP of 146/84 mm Hg, and asks for a handout about a low-potassium diet. Which action should the nurse take first?

   • A.Notify the provider promptly and assess the client for symptoms or ECG changes while following facility protocol.
   • B.Provide the handout and ask the client to begin the diet at home.
   • C.Teach the client to take an over-the-counter potassium binder with meals.
   • D.Ask the client to avoid bananas and schedule routine follow-up next week.

   Answer and rationale are in the full material.