Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 83%
Simulated
A nurse is caring for a client who has bipolar disorder and has been taking lithium for 1 year. Before administering the medication, the nurse should check to see that which of the following tests have been completed?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
The correct answer is C: Thyroid hormone assay. It is important to check the thyroid hormone levels before administering lithium because long-term lithium use can lead to hypothyroidism. Monitoring thyroid function helps prevent and detect any potential thyroid issues. Brain natriuretic peptide (A) is not relevant to lithium therapy. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (B) is not necessary for monitoring lithium therapy. Liver function tests (D) are not directly impacted by lithium therapy.