A patient receives a drug that has a narrow therapeutic range. The nurse administering this medication will expect to do what?
Administer the drug at intervals longer than the drug half-life.
Teach the patient that maximum drug effects will occur within a short period.
Administer this medication intravenously.
Order lab to check blood drug level.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A Reason:
Administering the drug at intervals longer than the drug half-life is not typically recommended for medications with a narrow therapeutic range. These drugs require precise dosing to maintain therapeutic levels without reaching toxic levels. Extending the dosing interval could lead to subtherapeutic levels, reducing the drug’s effectiveness.
Choice B Reason:
Teaching the patient that maximum drug effects will occur within a short period is not specific to drugs with a narrow therapeutic range. While some medications may have rapid onset of action, the critical aspect of narrow therapeutic range drugs is maintaining consistent blood levels to avoid toxicity or subtherapeutic effects.
Choice C Reason:
Administering the medication intravenously is not a requirement for all drugs with a narrow therapeutic range. While IV administration can provide precise control over drug levels, many narrow therapeutic range drugs can be administered orally or through other routes. The key is monitoring and adjusting the dose based on blood levels.
Choice D Reason:
Ordering lab tests to check blood drug levels is essential for managing medications with a narrow therapeutic range. These drugs have a small margin between therapeutic and toxic doses, so regular monitoring of blood levels helps ensure the drug remains within the safe and effective range. This practice is known as therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and is crucial for drugs like warfarin, phenytoin, and digoxin.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Psychosocial factors, such as stress, beliefs, and expectations, can influence drug response to some extent. However, they are not the primary reason for the most common variations in drug response. These factors might affect how a patient perceives the effectiveness of a drug, but they do not significantly alter the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of the drug itself.
Choice B Reason:
Drug receptor sites can vary between individuals, affecting how well a drug binds and exerts its effect. While this can contribute to differences in drug response, it is not the most common cause. Variations in receptor sites are often due to genetic differences, which can influence the efficacy and potency of a drug.
Choice C Reason:
This is the correct answer. The metabolism of drugs is the most common cause of variation in drug response among individuals. Differences in metabolic rates can be attributed to genetic factors, age, liver function, and the presence of other medications. These factors affect how quickly a drug is broken down and eliminated from the body, leading to variations in drug levels and responses.
Choice D Reason:
Hypersensitivity potential refers to the likelihood of an individual having an allergic reaction to a drug. While this can cause significant differences in drug response, it is not the most common reason for variations. Hypersensitivity reactions are relatively rare compared to metabolic differences.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Tertiary prevention involves measures taken to reduce the impact of an ongoing illness or injury that has lasting effects. This includes rehabilitation and efforts to prevent further complications or deterioration. Vaccination, however, is aimed at preventing the disease before it occurs, which does not align with the concept of tertiary prevention.
Choice B Reason:
Primary prevention refers to actions taken to prevent the onset of disease before it occurs. Vaccination is a classic example of primary prevention because it aims to protect individuals from contracting diseases by stimulating the immune system to recognize and fight specific pathogens. In this case, the meningococcal vaccine helps prevent meningitis, making it a primary preventive measure.
Choice C Reason:
Disease treatment involves managing and caring for a patient to combat a disease or condition. This includes interventions aimed at curing the disease, alleviating symptoms, or preventing complications. Vaccination does not fall under disease treatment because it is a preventive measure rather than a therapeutic one
Choice D Reason:
Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and prompt intervention to prevent the progression of a disease. This includes screening tests and early treatment of conditions to halt or slow their progression. Vaccination, however, is intended to prevent the disease from occurring in the first place, which is not the goal of secondary prevention.
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