Question

Nurse is caring for a patient who has HF and a prescription for enalapril. Nurse should monitor the patient for which of the following as an adverse effect of the medication?

A) Hyperkalemia.
B) Hypoglycemia.
C) Increased urine output.
D) Elevated blood pressure.

Answer 1

The nurse should monitor for Hyperkalemia as an adverse effect of enalapril in a patient with heart failure. Enalapril can increase blood potassium levels, potentially leading to hyperkalemia.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse caring for a patient with Heart Failure (HF) and a prescription for enalapril should monitor the patient for Hyperkalemia as an adverse effect of the medication. Enalapril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used to treat hypertension and heart failure. One of the effects of ACE inhibitors is that they can increase potassium levels in the blood, which can lead to hyperkalemia, a condition where potassium accumulates in the blood and can cause symptoms ranging from malaise to potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias. As compared to loop diuretics, which are known to increase urine output by inhibiting the reabsorption of sodium and chloride ions in the loop of Henle, ACE inhibitors do not typically cause this effect. Additionally, ACE inhibitors can lower blood pressure, counteracting the circumstance of hypertension that can lead to fluid volume overload, a significant concern in patients with heart failure.