Final answer:
The nurse should advise the client to increase dietary potassium while taking furosemide, as it's a loop diuretic that can lead to a loss of potassium. It's important to manage electrolyte balance when on diuretics. There is no need to lie down post-administration or avoid dairy with furosemide.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who recently began taking furosemide. One of the important instructions for the client includes: A. Increase dietary potassium while taking the medication. Furosemide is a loop diuretic that inhibits the reabsorption of Na+ and Cl- ions by the ascending limb of the loop of Henle. Due to the loss of these electrolytes, diuresis is increased, which means that the urine volume is increased, thereby potentially leading to alterations in electrolyte balance, specifically hypokalemia (low levels of potassium). To prevent this, clients are often advised to increase their intake of potassium-rich foods or sometimes prescribed a potassium supplement. Taking the medication at bedtime is not advised since it can cause nocturia (nighttime urination) and disturb sleep patterns. Therefore, it is typically recommended to take furosemide in the morning or early afternoon.
Furthermore, there is no need to lie down after taking the medication or avoid taking it with dairy products specifically. Such guidance would be more relevant to other types of medications. Therefore, advice to avoid taking the medication with dairy products or to lie down after administration does not apply to furosemide.