Question

A patient is receiving dexamethasone to prevent cerebral edema caused by a motor vehicle accident. The patient is undergoing mechanical ventilation and is not responding to verbal stimuli. What is the best nursing intervention to prevent complications of the pharmacotherapy

Answer 1

Your answer would be, administering a proton pump inhibitor.


Patients taking glucocorticoids are at high risk for gastric erosion and bleeding because these agents are likely to erode the gastric mucosa during treatment. To avoid this serious complication of therapy, the nurse provides effective preventive care in the form of a proton pump inhibitor. In addition, the nurse should monitor the patient's stool for occult blood and the serum hemoglobin for early detection of gastrointestinal bleeding.



Hope that helps!!!