Final answer:
The discharge care plan for a client on Dilantin (phenytoin) should include the need for regularly scheduled blood work and a warning about potential drowsiness. It's also important to discuss the maintenance of good dental hygiene due to the possibility of gum overgrowth, a notable side effect unrelated to dental staining.
Step-by-step explanation:
When preparing a discharge care plan for a client taking Dilantin (phenytoin), an anticonvulsant medication used to manage tonic-clonic seizures, it's essential to include specific information to ensure the client's safety and the effectiveness of the medication. Since Dilantin can have several side effects as well as requiring regular monitoring, certain precautions and routines must be adhered to.
One key point to include in the discharge plan is that the client will need regularly scheduled blood work. Monitoring phenytoin levels is crucial because the therapeutic range is narrow, and toxicity can occur if levels are too high. Additionally, the medication can cause gum overgrowth, so it's important, albeit not mentioned in the original question explicitly, that the client maintain good dental hygiene, but it does not typically cause dental staining. While diet is not usually a direct concern with phenytoin, it does have interactions with certain foods and supplements; this should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized advice. Lastly, it's important to highlight that Dilantin can cause problems with drowsiness; thus, the client should be cautioned about operating heavy machinery or driving until they know how the medication affects them.