Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 72%
Simulated
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has been taking sertraline (Zoloft) for the past 2 weeks. Which of the following data collection findings should alert the nurse to the possibility that the client is developing serotonin syndrome?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
The correct answer is A: Fever. Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by excessive serotonin levels in the body. Fever is a hallmark symptom of serotonin syndrome, along with other symptoms such as confusion, agitation, rapid heart rate, dilated pupils, and high blood pressure. In this scenario, the nurse should be alert to fever as it could indicate the development of serotonin syndrome. Tinnitus (choice B), bruising (choice C), and rash (choice D) are not typical symptoms of serotonin syndrome and would not necessarily indicate its development.