Question

The nurse administers IV cimetidine, an H2 histamine blocking agent, to the burned patient during the emergent phase. When the patient's family asks why this drug is being given, what is the nurse's best response?

a. "To increase the urine output and prevent kidney damage."
b. "To stimulate intestinal movement and prevent abdominal bloating."
c. "To decrease hydrochloric acid production in the stomach and prevent ulcers."
d. "To inhibit loss of fluid from the circulatory system and prevent heart failure."

Answer 1

IV cimetidine is given to decrease stomach acid production to prevent stress-related peptic ulcers in a burned patient.

Step-by-step explanation:

The administration of IV cimetidine, an H2 histamine blocking agent, during the emergent phase of a burned patient's treatment is primarily for the purpose of decreasing hydrochloric acid production in the stomach to prevent ulcer formation. H2 blockers such as cimetidine are drugs used not only to treat ulcers but also conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and excessive acid production such as in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. They work by blocking the action of histamine on the stomach's acid-producing cells, thus reducing the amount of acid the stomach makes. This can be crucial for patients in critical care to prevent additional stress-related complications like peptic ulcers.