A few days after a Cerebral Vascular Accident, the patient's family asks the nurse if tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a drug therapy option now. The nurse's response based on the knowledge that this drug must be used within:

To calculate the dose of phenytoin suspension, the nurse should use the following formula:

Dose (mL) = Desired dose (mg) / Concentration (mg/mL) x Volume (mL)

Plugging in the values from the question, we get:

Dose (mL) = 75 mg / (25 mg/5 mL) x 5 mL

Dose (mL) = 15 mL

Therefore, the nurse should administer 15 mL of phenytoin suspension to the patient

A. 4 hours:

This option indicates that tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) must be administered within 4 hours of the onset of stroke symptoms to be considered as a drug therapy option. tPA is a thrombolytic medication used to dissolve blood clots in ischemic stroke, and its effectiveness is highest when administered promptly after the onset of symptoms.

B. 1 hour:

Administering tPA within 1 hour of stroke onset would be extremely challenging and impractical. It typically takes time for patients to recognize stroke symptoms, seek medical attention, and undergo diagnostic evaluations before tPA administration. While time is of the essence in stroke treatment, 1 hour is too short of a timeframe for most patients to receive tPA.

C. 24 hours:

Administering tPA beyond 4.5 hours of stroke onset is generally contraindicated due to the increased risk of complications, including hemorrhagic transformation of the stroke. While there may be some extended time windows considered for certain patients under specific circumstances, such as those meeting eligibility criteria for extended thrombolytic therapy, 24 hours is outside the standard timeframe for tPA administration.

D. 8 hours:

While tPA administration within 8 hours of stroke onset may be feasible for some patients, it is beyond the standard recommended time window for optimal effectiveness. As mentioned earlier, tPA is most effective when administered within the first 3 to 4.5 hours after the onset of symptoms, with earlier administration associated with better outcomes.