4. A nurse should locate and remove a client's clonidine patch if:
. The client complains of numbness and tingling down the arm that is nearest to the patch.
. The blood pressure is 80/50 mm Hg.
. The client tells the nurse about being allergic to sulfa products.
. The potassium level is 3.0 mg/dL.
Test-Taking Tip
If the drug is an antihypertensive, select the answer that relates to blood pressure, not neurology (Answer 1) or allergy (Answer 3).
Content Area: Adult Health, Cardiovascular; Integrated Process: Nursing Process, Analysis; Cognitive Level: Application; Client Need/Subneed: Physiological Integrity/Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies/Adverse Effects/Contraindications/Interactions
.
Answer 1 is incorrect because clonidine patches are used to manage pain or hypertension. Numbness or tingling down the arm is not related to the patch. Answer 2 is correct because clonidine is an alpha-2 receptor stimulator, working at the presynaptic receptor of the sympathetic nervous system. Thus, it reduces the output of norepinephrine and is used to treat hypertension. If the BP is too low, antihypertensive medications should not be given. It is important for the nurse to remember that drugs in patches are in a constant state of "being given," and the patch would need to be removed. Answer 3 is incorrect because clonidine patches are not sulfa-based. Answer 4 is incorrect because clonidine patches do not affect serum potassium.