A client is recovering on a medical-surgical unit three days after an emergency appendectomy. The client's spouse approaches the practical nurse (PN) and privately reveals that the client has been taking high doses of unprescribed alprazolam daily for the past year, but has not had any since the morning of the surgery. Which of the following actions should the PN take? Select all that apply.
- Notify the supervising registered nurse (RN) immediately about the undisclosed medication history.Cevap
- Implement seizure precautions, including padding the bed's side rails.Cevap
- Minimize environmental stimuli in the client's room by dimming the lights and reducing noise.Cevap
- DDiscuss the substance use history with the spouse in the unit hallway so the client cannot overhear.
- EAsk the spouse why they waited until the third postoperative day to share this information.
- FApply bilateral soft wrist restraints to protect the surgical site in case severe agitation develops.
Cevap
The correct actions are to notify the supervising RN immediately, implement seizure precautions, and minimize environmental stimuli.
Abrupt cessation of high-dose benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam, after prolonged use places the client at high risk for life-threatening withdrawal complications, including seizures and autonomic hyperactivity. The symptoms of withdrawal typically peak after a few days, aligning with the client's third postoperative day timeline. The PN's immediate priorities are to ensure client safety by implementing seizure precautions, decreasing environmental stimuli to prevent exacerbation of agitation or seizure triggers, and escalating this critical new information to the RN so medical management can be initiated.
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Anahtar Kavram
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal and Client Safety