A medication is to infuse at 15 mcg/min. The solution available is 25 mg/100 mL. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr? (Round to the nearest whole number & fill in the blank with the numerical value only)

A. "If my pain persists, I can safely increase the dose to 1500 mg every 4–6 hours.": This dose exceeds the maximum safe limit for acetaminophen. The recommended adult dose is no more than 1000 mg per dose and 4000 mg per day. Exceeding this can lead to serious hepatotoxicity, especially with prolonged use or preexisting liver conditions.
B. "I should use caution when taking acetaminophen with warfarin as it may affect my INR levels.": Acetaminophen can increase the anticoagulant effect of warfarin, possibly elevating INR and increasing the risk of bleeding. Regular monitoring is recommended when both drugs are used concurrently.
C. "I need to be cautious when taking other medications that may contain acetaminophen.": Many over-the-counter medications, such as cold and flu remedies, also contain acetaminophen. Accidental overdose can occur if this is not considered when calculating total daily intake.
D. "I should contact my healthcare provider if I experience yellowing of the skin or eyes.": Jaundice may be a sign of liver damage or failure due to acetaminophen toxicity. Early recognition of this symptom is critical for preventing serious complications.

A. The safe and toxic plasma levels of the drug are very close to each other: A narrow therapeutic index means there is a small margin between the minimum effective concentration and the toxic concentration. Small dosing errors or individual variations in metabolism can lead to toxicity or subtherapeutic effects, requiring close monitoring.
B. The drug has a wide range between its effective dose and toxic dose: This describes a drug with a wide therapeutic index, which allows more flexibility in dosing without significant risk of toxicity. Narrow therapeutic index drugs are the opposite and require precise dosing.
C. The drug requires infrequent monitoring of serum levels: Medications with a narrow therapeutic index often require frequent serum level monitoring to ensure that the drug stays within the safe and effective range. This helps reduce the risk of adverse effects or treatment failure.
D. The drug has a high margin of safety in clinical use: A high margin of safety is characteristic of drugs with a wide therapeutic index. Narrow therapeutic index drugs have a low safety margin and pose higher risks if not carefully dosed and monitored.