Question: A practitioner plans to have a client with the diagnosis of bipolar disorder continue taking lithium after discharge. The nurse identifies that the teaching about the medication plan is understood when the client states "I know that this medication:
1. should be stopped if illness is suspected."
2. may need to be taken for the rest of my life."
3. causes no serious side effects when taken correctly."
4. will require me to increase the dosage at the beginning of a manic episode."
Rationale: For clients with bipolar disorders, it has been shown that long-term lithium therapy flattens the highs of the euphoric episodes and minimizes the lows of the depressed episodes. The practitioner should be notified before medication is stopped. The therapeutic level and the toxic level are very close, and serious side effects can occur. Clients should never adjust their own dosage of medication.
This week’s NCLEX exam practice question came from:
Nugent: Mosby's Review Questions for the NCLEX-RN Examination, 7th Edition, Chapter 3, Page 242, question 481
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