Nursing Process Focus:
Patients Receiving Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
Assessment
Prior to administration:
• Obtain complete health history including
allergies.
• Assess baseline liver function tests, lipid
studies, and pregnancy test in women of
child bearing age
• Assess for history of liver disease, muscle
disease
• Obtain patient’s drug history including
use of over the counter medications that
might effect liver function or have
interactions and assess allergies
Potential Nursing Diagnoses
• Health Maintenance, Ineffective related to
insufficient knowledge of actions and
effects of prescribed drug therapy
• Knowledge deficient related to need for
altered lifestyle
Planning: Patient Goals and Expected Outcomes
The patient will:
• Demonstrate the expected outcome of drug therapy and list reportable side effects.
• Demonstrate adherence to prescribed lifestyle changes
Implementation
Interventions and (Rationales) Patient Education/Discharge Planning
• Monitor for concurrent alcohol use.
(Alcohol may affect liver function.)
• Advise patient to avoid or limit alcohol
use.
• Encourage smoking cessation. (Smoking
may decrease HDL levels and thereby
counteract effects of medication.)
• Advise patient to seek methods to stop
smoking.
• Evaluate reports of vision changes. (Drug
may cause photosensitivity.)
Instruct patient to:
• Avoid prolonged sun or UV exposure.
• Use sunglasses, wear protective clothing,
and use sunscreen.
• Monitor blood cholesterol and triglyceride
levels at intervals during therapy. After
beginning treatment levels are re-checked
in 2-3 months (to ascertain drug
effectiveness).
• Inform patient of treatment plan.
• Monitor compliance with dietary
modifications. (Dietary modification is
continued along with drug therapy.)
• Instruct patient concerning the need to
continue low saturated fat, low cholesterol
diet.
• Monitor CPK levels if muscle tenderness
or weakness develops.
• Monitor liver function studies as these
drugs may affect liver function.
• Advise patient to report to the lab for
scheduled blood tests.
