Question

A nurse is teaching a client who has bipolar disorder about lithium. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?

a) "We will monitor your lithium levels closely while you are taking this medication."
b) "This medication is addictive, so you will need to discontinue it in six months."
c) "Your provider may prescribe a diuretic if you have trouble urinating while taking lithium."
d) "Weight gain should be reported to your provider as an indication of lithium toxicity"

Answer 1

The nurse should include the statement, 'We will monitor your lithium levels closely while you are taking this medication.' Monitoring lithium levels is important to ensure that the client is receiving the appropriate dose and to prevent toxicity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should include the statement, 'We will monitor your lithium levels closely while you are taking this medication.' Monitoring lithium levels is important to ensure that the client is receiving the appropriate dose and to prevent toxicity. It is not correct to say that lithium is addictive and needs to be discontinued in six months (option b). Additionally, a diuretic may be prescribed to manage lithium-induced polyuria (option c), but it is not specifically mentioned as a solution for trouble urinating. Weight gain is not directly associated with lithium toxicity (option d).