A Patient with Myasthenia Gravis Who Is Taking a Cholinesterase

question 5

Multiple Choice

A patient with myasthenia gravis who is taking a cholinesterase inhibitor is being admitted to the intensive care unit and is on mechanical ventilation. The prescriber has ordered a challenge dose of edrophonium to distinguish between a myasthenic crisis and a medication overdose. The nurse will expect to do what?

• A) Administer neostigmine if muscle strength decreases.
• B) Be prepared to administer atropine if muscle weakness increases.
• C) Give a second dose of edrophonium if no improvement is seen.
• D) Give pralidoxime (Protopam) if cholinergic symptoms worsen.

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Definitions:

Accommodation

In psychology, the process of adjusting one's cognitive structures to incorporate new information or experiences.

Conservation

The protection, preservation, management, or restoration of natural environments and the ecological communities that inhabit them.

Concrete Operational

A stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development where children begin to think logically about concrete events.

Preoperational

A stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development (approximately ages 2-7) where children begin to use language and think symbolically, but lack logical operations.