Practice Question
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is taking levothyroxine. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
"The medication should be taken before I eat breakfast every morning."
Rationale:
🟢 Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach, typically 30–60 minutes before breakfast, to ensure optimal absorption.
🟢 Taking it with food, calcium, iron, or antacids can decrease absorption, making the dose less effective.
🟢 Establishing a consistent morning routine improves hormone level stability and therapeutic effect.
🟢 This statement accurately reflects the timing and administration needed for correct use.
🟢 Therefore, this is the statement that best shows correct understanding of levothyroxine administration.
"I will need to take the medication until my thyroid function returns to normal."
🟢 Most clients with hypothyroidism require lifelong thyroid hormone replacement, because the thyroid gland typically does not recover normal function.
🟢 Saying “until my thyroid function returns to normal” implies the treatment is temporary, which is usually incorrect.
🟢 Stopping the medication when they “feel better” can lead to recurrence of hypothyroid symptoms and complications.
🟢 Teaching should emphasize that levothyroxine is often a lifelong therapy with periodic TSH monitoring and dose adjustment.
🟢 Thus, this statement shows misunderstanding of the chronic nature of hypothyroidism treatment.
"The medication might lower my blood sugar."
🟢 Levothyroxine may actually increase blood glucose levels slightly because it increases metabolic rate, not lower them.
🟢 Clients with diabetes may need adjustments to antidiabetic medications when starting or changing levothyroxine.
🟢 Saying it might lower blood sugar is the opposite of the typical effect and can be misleading.
🟢 Nurses should monitor for hyperglycemia, not hypoglycemia, as a possible effect.
🟢 Therefore, this statement is incorrect.
"I will take the medication with an antacid if it gives me heartburn."
🟢 Antacids, as well as calcium and iron supplements, can interfere with levothyroxine absorption if taken at the same time.
🟢 The client should be taught to take levothyroxine on an empty stomach and separate antacids by at least 4 hours.
🟢 Taking them together may reduce drug effectiveness and lead to persistent hypothyroid symptoms.
🟢 Heartburn management must use provider-approved strategies that do not interfere with thyroid hormone therapy.
🟢 Thus, this statement indicates inadequate understanding of proper medication administration.
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This question is from ATI PN Adult Medical Surgical Online Practice 2023 B which contains 87 questions.
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From Exam
ATI PN Adult Medical Surgical Online Practice 2023 B
87 Questions
View Full Exam Start PracticingQuestion Details
- Category: LPN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: LPN ATI Exams
- Domain: Medical-Surgical
- Answer Choices: 4