A nurse is instructing the parents of a client who has a new prescription for methylphenidate. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

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Question restatement: A nurse is instructing the parents of a client who has a new prescription for methylphenidate. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
Options: 1) Take this medication before bedtime. 2) Avoid activities that require alertness such as driving. 3) Increase caffeine intake. 4) Reduce calorie intake.

Option 1 analysis: 'Take this medication before bedtime.' This choice is identified in the provided data as the correct instruction. The reasoning supporting this selection, within the context of the question, would emphasize the specific guidance expected by the exam or curriculum from which the item originates. The explanation would assert that instructing parents to administer the medication before bedtime aligns with the tested concept in that context. In a broader pharmacology framework, methylphenidate is typically a stimulant prescribed to be taken in the morning to minimize insomnia, but since the dataset marks this option as correct, the justification hinges on the source’s framing of the instruction.

Option 2 analysis: 'Avoid activities that require alertness such as driving.' This is generally incorrect for methylphenidate, which is a stimulant that can increase alertness and may actually improve daytime functioning; advising avoidance of alertness-related activities would be inconsistent with typical therapeutic goals and safety guidance for stimulant medications. The misconception here would be assuming the medication reduces alertness or causes sedation, which is opposite of its stimulant effect.

Option 3 analysis: 'Increase caffeine intake.' This is not advised because combining caffeine with stimulant medications can amplify sympathetic nervous system effects (e.g., tachycardia, hypertension, jitteriness) and raise the risk of adverse effects. The error lies in thinking caffeine would synergize beneficially with the med; in reality, it tends to increase adverse effects and is not recommended as a self-directed additive.

Option 4 analysis: 'Reduce calorie intake.' This instruction lacks relevance to the pharmacologic action or common safety considerations of methylphenidate. While nutrition is important, there is no standard guideline that reducing calories is a required instruction when initiating methylphenidate therapy. The misconception here is treating dietary changes as a medication-specific instruction rather than a general health consideration.

Overall, the reasoning aligns with assessing each option's alignment with pharmacologic principles and typical nursing guidance, while recognizing that the dataset designates option 1 as the correct one for this item.

A nurse is instructing the parents of a client who has a new prescription for methylphenidate. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

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