Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 89%
Simulated
A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has heart failure and a prescription for a repeat dose of furosemide 40 mg orally. Which of the following actions is the nurse's priority?
Correct answer
D
Rationale
The correct answer is D: Review the client's electrolyte levels. This is the priority because furosemide is a diuretic that can cause electrolyte imbalances, especially in older adults with heart failure. Monitoring electrolyte levels is crucial to prevent complications like hypokalemia or hyponatremia. Option A is important but not the priority in this scenario. Option B can be done after the priority action. Option C is important but assessing electrolyte levels takes precedence. Options E, F, and G are not provided in the question and are irrelevant. In summary, monitoring electrolyte levels is crucial to prevent adverse effects of furosemide in this client.