What action should the nurse take to assess an alendronate-related complaint promptly?

• A. Ask the patient to describe her method of alendronate administration.
• B. Advise immediate emergency care for heartburn.
• C. Reassure that heartburn is common and ignore symptoms.
• D. Instruct to take NSAIDs for pain.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that esophageal irritation from alendronate often stems from how the medicine is taken. Alendronate must be taken with a full glass of water and the patient should remain upright for at least 30 minutes before eating or taking any other medications. If someone takes it with inadequate water, lies down too soon after swallowing, or takes it with meals, the pill can irritate the esophagus and cause heartburn or more serious esophagitis. By asking the patient to describe exactly how she administers alendronate, the nurse can quickly identify modifiable factors that might be triggering the symptoms and provide precise patient teaching to prevent further irritation. This step also sets the stage for further assessment if symptoms persist or worsen, and guides when more urgent evaluation would be needed (for example, if there are alarm signs like severe chest pain, difficulty swallowing, or GI bleeding). The other options either overreact (emergency care when not indicated), ignore symptoms, or introduce NSAIDs that could worsen GI injury.