Question

A nurse is assessing a client who is taking prophythiouracil for the treatment of Graves disease. which of the following findings should the nurse ID as an indication that the medication has been effective

A. The client's heart rate is 120 beats per minute.
B. The client's resting tremor has subsided.
C. The client's TSH level is below 0.5 mU/L.
D. The client's goiter has decreased in size.

Answer 1

The client's resting tremor subsiding (option B) is a clear indication that propylthiouracil has been effective in treating Graves' disease, as this signifies a reduction in symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question relates to assessing the effectiveness of propylthiouracil treatment for Graves' disease, which is a form of hyperthyroidism. Propylthiouracil functions by inhibiting the synthesis of thyroid hormones and is used to control the excessive hormone production characteristic of Graves' disease.

Among the provided options, the indication that propylthiouracil has been effective would be option B: The client's resting tremor has subsided. Since hyperthyroidism causes symptoms such as tremors, weight loss, and increased heart rate due to overproduction of thyroid hormones, a decrease in tremors indicates that the medication is successfully reducing the thyroid hormone levels. Conversely, a client's heart rate of 120 beats per minute (option A) is still indicative of hyperthyroidism, as is a suppressed TSH level below 0.5 mU/L (option C), and while a decreased goiter size (option D) can be a result of effective treatment, it is less specific than the resolution of symptoms like tremors.