A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and learns that it is a nonselective agonist. What does the nurse understand about this drug?

Choice A reason: Hyperthyroidism involves elevated T3 and T4 with low TSH due to excessive thyroid hormone production. The patient’s low T3/T4 and high TSH indicate reduced thyroid activity, not overactivity, as the pituitary increases TSH to stimulate the underactive thyroid, making this choice incorrect.

Choice B reason: Hypothyroidism is characterized by low T3 and T4 levels due to underactive thyroid function, prompting the pituitary to secrete more TSH to stimulate hormone production. This matches the patient’s lab results (low T3/T4, high TSH), often seen in primary hypothyroidism, making this the correct choice.

Choice C reason: Thyroid cancer may alter thyroid function but typically doesn’t present with consistently low T3/T4 and high TSH. It’s more likely to cause nodules or abnormal growths, not this specific hormonal pattern, which aligns with hypothyroidism, making this choice less likely.

Choice D reason: Pituitary adenoma causing secondary hypothyroidism would lower TSH, T3, and T4 due to impaired pituitary function. High TSH with low T3/T4 suggests primary thyroid failure, not pituitary dysfunction, making this choice incorrect for the patient’s hormonal profile.

Choice A reason: Low drug interactions are desirable but unrelated to ease of administration. Adherence is directly tied to administration simplicity, so this is incorrect.

Choice B reason: Low production cost is a manufacturing benefit, not administration ease. Patient adherence is the outcome of easy administration, so this is incorrect.

Choice C reason: Storage stability aids logistics, not administration. Easy administration improves compliance, like taking oral pills, so this is incorrect for the outcome.

Choice D reason: Easy administration, like simple dosing or oral routes, enhances patient adherence by reducing barriers. This is the desired outcome, making it correct.