Question

The nurse is providing preoperative teaching for a client preparing for a thyroidectomy about the medication saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI, ThyroSheild) drops. Which information is important for the nurse to include?

A
Store the medication in the refrigerator.
B
The medication will enlarge the thyroid gland.
C
Mix the medication with juice or milk. Correct Answer (Blank)
D
Take the medication on an empty stomach.

Answer 1

The nurse should instruct the client to mix SSKI drops with juice or milk before ingestion, correcting the misconception that SSKI will enlarge the thyroid gland. It is part of the preparation for a thyroidectomy to reduce the thyroid gland's vascularity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should include in the preoperative teaching for a client preparing for a thyroidectomy that the medication, a saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI, ThyroShield) drops, should be mixed with juice or milk before ingestion. This is important because it can help mask the taste and ensure the medication is well-tolerated. Moreover, SSKI aims to decrease the vascularity of the thyroid gland before surgery, not to enlarge it, because a less vascular gland is safer to operate on. The solution does not need to be stored in the refrigerator and is not necessarily required to be taken on an empty stomach. Prior to the thyroidectomy, the therapeutic use of iodine, in the form of SSKI, is intended to prevent the thyroid gland from overproducing thyroid hormones.

Answer 2

For a client preparing for a thyroidectomy, it is important to mix the saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI, ThyroShield) with juice or milk to mask the taste and aid ingestion. SSKI is intended to decrease the thyroid's vascularity and size, not enlarge it. The correct answer is options C

Step-by-step explanation:

When providing preoperative teaching for a client preparing for a thyroidectomy about the medication saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI, ThyroShield), it is important to inform them about how to take the medication properly. Specifically, the correct answer in this case is that the medication should be mixed with juice or milk. This is recommended to mask the taste and to ensure that the medication is well tolerated when ingested.

SSKI is used in the preoperative treatment of patients undergoing a thyroidectomy to decrease the vascularity of the thyroid gland and reduce the risk of bleeding during surgery. It is crucial to understand that SSKI does not enlarge the thyroid gland; rather, it helps to reduce its function and size temporarily before surgery. The medication is not typically stored in the refrigerator, and taking it on an empty stomach is not necessary unless specified by a healthcare provider. So, The correct answer is options C