When caring for a client on eplerenone for hypertension, nurses must monitor for hyperkalemia, characterized by symptoms like weakness and nausea, and hematuria. Regular electrolyte level monitoring is crucial for prompt detection and management of hyperkalemia.
When monitoring a client on eplerenone for hypertension, the nurse should be vigilant for hyperkalemia as an adverse effect. Symptoms of hyperkalemia can range from weakness and nausea to potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias.
It is crucial to watch for signs such as weakness, hypotension, and hematuria as they could indicate hyperkalemia, a serious complication of eplerenone therapy.
Monitoring electrolyte levels regularly is essential to detect and manage hyperkalemia promptly in clients prescribed eplerenone for hypertension.
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Answer:
Option C, hyperkalemia
Explanation:
The antihypertensive medication eplerenone (brand name Inspra) functions to lower the blood pressure by blocking the effects of the mineralocorticoid hormone known as aldosterone, instead attaching to these mineralocorticoid receptors itself.
Blocking aldosterone alters the normal physiology of the RAAS -- renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, a homeostatic pathway involving multiple organs for the purpose of intrinsically raising the blood pressure. In RAAS, aldosterone is activated for release from the adrenal glands by peptide hormone angiotensin II. In doing so, the kidneys are signaled to resorb water and sodium but eliminate potassium in order to increase the blood pressure. In lay terms, a lung hormone tells the adrenal glands to release their hormone which then tells the kidneys hold the water, hold the salt, drop the potassium.
If aldosterone is blocked, water and sodium will continue to be wasted, while potassium is spared. Lower sodium levels can translate to lower blood pressure. However, if this continues, the concentration of potassium will rise due to lower fluid volume relative to the levels of potassium.
Thus, an adverse effect the nurse should monitor for is option C, hyperkalemia, which is abnormally high levels of electrolyte potassium within the bloodstream.
