The nurse admits a patient to the unit and learns the patient has recently been diagnosed with chronic renal failure but has not informed the primary care provider of this diagnosis.
What is the nurse’s first priority?

Choice A rationale

Asking the patient what time of day the medication is taken can help identify if taking it at a different time might alleviate sleep disturbances. SSRIs like sertraline can cause insomnia if taken later in the day.

Choice B rationale

Recommending a weekly dosage is inappropriate and could potentially disrupt the therapeutic effect. SSRIs should be taken daily, as prescribed.

Choice C rationale

Counseling the patient to take the medication at bedtime could worsen sleep disturbances, as sertraline may cause insomnia in some individuals. Timing should be adjusted based on patient response.

Choice D rationale

Suggesting a lower dose without consulting the provider may not address the issue effectively and could reduce the efficacy of the medication. Dosage adjustments should be made based on clinical assessment and provider recommendation.

Choice A rationale

Pharmacodynamics is the study of how drugs affect the body, including the mechanisms of action and the relationship between drug concentration and effect. It does not describe the actions of the nurses in this context.

Choice B rationale

Pharmacotherapeutics involves the use of drugs to diagnose, treat, and prevent disease. The actions of the nurses in administering iodine, chemotherapy, and vaccines are examples of pharmacotherapeutics, as they are using drugs for therapeutic purposes.

Choice C rationale

Pharmacoeconomics is the study of the cost and value of drugs and therapies. It does not describe the actions of the nurses in administering medications.

Choice D rationale

Pharmacokinetics is the study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes drugs. It does not describe the actions of the nurses in this context.