Final answer:
The nurse should be aware that high-potassium foods such as bananas may interact with captopril, an ACE inhibitor, potentially leading to hyperkalemia, which can be dangerous. It's important for patients on captopril to manage dietary potassium intake.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse should recognize that potassium-rich foods such as bananas (a) could cause a potential medication interaction with captopril. Foods like spinach (b), avocados (c), and oranges (d) are also high in potassium and may pose a risk when consumed in large quantities by a patient on captopril.
Captopril is an ACE inhibitor often prescribed for hypertension and certain types of heart failure. ACE inhibitors can increase potassium levels in the blood, a condition known as hyperkalemia, which can be dangerous. It is important for patients on ACE inhibitors to manage their dietary potassium intake. High-potassium foods like bananas, spinach, avocados, and oranges can contribute to an excessive potassium level when combined with captopril, potentially leading to serious heart-related side effects. Therefore, healthcare professionals should monitor potassium levels and provide dietary recommendations to patients taking captopril.