A client with adrenal insufficiency is prescribed fludrocortisone. Which nursing action minimizes risk of a potential side effect?

A client with adrenal insufficiency is prescribed fludrocortisone. Which nursing action minimizes risk of a potential side effect?

• A. Monitoring the client's body temperature
• B. Monitoring the client's blood pressure
• C. Instructing the client to take the drug along with food
• D. Instructing the client to report occurrence of uncontrolled watery stools

Answer: (B)

Fludrocortisone acts like aldosterone, increasing sodium and water retention and promoting potassium loss. This can raise circulating volume and blood pressure, leading to edema or hypertensive risks. Regularly monitoring blood pressure allows early detection of increases, enabling dose adjustments and preventing hypertensive complications. The other actions don’t address this mineralocorticoid’s main potential adverse effect; taking with food mainly affects GI tolerance, and temperature monitoring or reporting watery stools don’t directly mitigate the risk of hypertension from fludrocortisone.

Fludrocortisone acts like aldosterone, increasing sodium and water retention and promoting potassium loss. This can raise circulating volume and blood pressure, leading to edema or hypertensive risks. Regularly monitoring blood pressure allows early detection of increases, enabling dose adjustments and preventing hypertensive complications. The other actions don’t address this mineralocorticoid’s main potential adverse effect; taking with food mainly affects GI tolerance, and temperature monitoring or reporting watery stools don’t directly mitigate the risk of hypertension from fludrocortisone.