R.C., a 28-year-old woman, has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease. Her health care provider has explained the proposed therapy with propylthiouracil to her and her husband. She...

R.C., a 28-year-old woman, has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease. Her health care provider has explained the proposed therapy with propylthiouracil to her and her husband. She has no other known health problems at this time. 1. What laboratory studies will be performed before drug therapy with propylthiouracil is started? Explain your answer. 2. R.C. asks, “What do I need to know while I’m taking this drug?” List pertinent patient teaching points. 3. After 1 month of therapy, R.C. comes into the health care provider’s office for a follow-up visit. She is upset because a friend told her about a relative who had antithyroid therapy for cancer and said he was “radioactive.” She is wondering if her medication has made her “radioactive.” How will the nurse answer her question? 4. Six months later, R.C. calls the office and says, “I think I might be pregnant. What do I do about taking this drug?” What does the nurse need to tell her?