A patient receives a drug that has a narrow therapeutic range. The nurse administering this medication will expect to do what?

Choice A Reason:

Disease treatment refers to the management and care of a patient to combat a disease or condition. This includes interventions aimed at curing the disease, alleviating symptoms, or preventing complications. While physical therapy can be part of disease treatment, in the context of a heart attack, it is more accurately described as a form of tertiary prevention.

Choice B 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. Physical therapy after a heart attack is a classic example of tertiary prevention, as it aims to improve the patient’s quality of life, enhance physical function, and prevent further cardiac events.

Choice C 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. In the case of heart disease, secondary prevention might involve regular monitoring of blood pressure and cholesterol levels to detect and manage risk factors early.

Choice D Reason:

Primary prevention aims to prevent the onset of disease before it occurs by reducing risk factors and promoting healthy behaviors. This includes lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and smoking cessation to prevent the development of heart disease in the first place. Physical therapy after a heart attack does not fall under primary prevention, as it is an intervention after the disease has already occurred.

Choice A Reason:

Biotransformation, also known as drug metabolism, is the process by which the body chemically alters a drug. This typically occurs in the liver and results in the conversion of the drug into metabolites, which can be more easily excreted from the body. Biotransformation is crucial for drug elimination but is not the process by which a drug is transported to receptor sites.

Choice B Reason:

Distribution is the correct answer. This process involves the dispersion of a drug throughout the body via the bloodstream after it has been absorbed. The drug is transported to various tissues and organs, including the target receptor sites where it exerts its therapeutic effects. Distribution is influenced by factors such as blood flow, tissue permeability, and the binding of the drug to plasma proteins.

Choice C Reason:

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. While osmosis is a fundamental biological process, it is not involved in the transport of drugs to receptor sites.

Choice D Reason:

Absorption is the process by which a drug enters the bloodstream from its site of administration. This can occur through various routes, such as oral, intravenous, or transdermal. Absorption is the initial step in drug delivery, but it is not the process by which the drug is transported to receptor sites.