When a patient is prescribed prazosin, what should be included in their care plan?

When a patient is prescribed prazosin, monitoring for orthostatic hypotension is a critical aspect of their care plan. Prazosin is an alpha-1 adrenergic blocker primarily used to treat hypertension and can cause significant drops in blood pressure, especially when a patient transitions from sitting or lying down to standing. This reaction occurs because the medication can impair the body's ability to respond to changes in posture, leading to dizziness, lightheadedness, or even fainting. Therefore, assessing the patient for symptoms of orthostatic hypotension and advising them to change positions slowly is essential to ensure their safety and comfort throughout treatment.

In contrast, monitoring for kidney function may be beneficial but is not specific to prazosin alone and is generally more applicable to other antihypertensive agents, especially those that have more direct effects on renal function. Encouraging frequent ambulation is a good practice in general nursing care but does not directly relate to the effects of prazosin. Lastly, while dietary education on sodium restriction is important in managing hypertension, it is a broader recommendation not unique to prazosin treatment.