The nurse is caring for a patient who has jaundice, dark urine, malaise, light-colored stools, nausea, and vomiting. What is this patient most likely experiencing?
An allergic reaction
An idiosyncratic drug effect on the bone marrow
Iatrogenic disease of the skin
Drug toxicity of the liver
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: Allergic reactions typically present with symptoms like rash, itching, or anaphylaxis, not jaundice, dark urine, or light stools. These symptoms indicate hepatobiliary dysfunction, not an immune-mediated response. Allergic reactions don’t typically affect liver function or bile excretion, making this choice inconsistent with the patient’s clinical presentation.
Choice B reason: Idiosyncratic drug effects on bone marrow cause hematologic issues like anemia or leukopenia, not jaundice or light stools. These symptoms suggest liver dysfunction, as bile pigment changes cause dark urine and pale stools. Bone marrow effects don’t explain the hepatobiliary symptoms, making this choice incorrect.
Choice C reason: Iatrogenic skin disease might involve rashes or lesions, but jaundice, dark urine, and light stools point to liver or bile duct issues. These symptoms result from impaired bilirubin metabolism, not cutaneous pathology. This choice doesn’t align with the systemic hepatobiliary symptoms described, making it incorrect.
Choice D reason: Drug-induced liver toxicity, such as from acetaminophen or statins, impairs bilirubin metabolism, causing jaundice, dark urine (bilirubinuria), and light stools (reduced bile). Malaise, nausea, and vomiting reflect systemic effects of liver dysfunction. This matches the patient’s symptoms, making it the most likely diagnosis and correct choice.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","B","C"]
Explanation
Choice A reason: Selectivity ensures a drug targets specific receptors, minimizing side effects. This is a key property of an ideal drug, making it a correct choice.
Choice B reason: Safety is critical, ensuring the drug causes minimal harm at therapeutic doses. This is a fundamental ideal drug property, so it is correct.
Choice C reason: Effectiveness ensures the drug achieves its intended therapeutic effect. This is essential for an ideal drug, making it a correct choice.
Choice D reason: Irreversible action is not ideal; reversible effects allow control and safety. The ‘Big Three’ focus on efficacy, safety, and selectivity, so this is incorrect.
Choice E reason: A trade name aids marketing but is not a pharmacological property. Effectiveness, safety, and selectivity are primary, so this is incorrect.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Furosemide, a loop diuretic, promotes potassium excretion, risking hypokalemia. The patient’s potassium level (3.1 mEq/L) is below normal (3.5-5.0 mEq/L), indicating hypokalemia, which can cause arrhythmias. Administering Lasix without addressing this could worsen the electrolyte imbalance, making this choice unsafe and incorrect.
Choice B reason: Oxygen administration addresses respiratory issues, not electrolyte imbalances like hypokalemia (3.1 mEq/L) caused by furosemide. There’s no indication of hypoxia in the lab results or scenario. This action doesn’t correct the potassium deficit or prevent further depletion, making it irrelevant and incorrect.
Choice C reason: Furosemide exacerbates hypokalemia (patient’s potassium: 3.1 mEq/L), risking cardiac arrhythmias or muscle weakness. Holding the dose prevents further potassium loss, and notifying the physician allows for correction (e.g., potassium supplements) and reassessment of therapy, making this the safest and most appropriate action.
Choice D reason: A 24-hour urine collection assesses renal function or output but doesn’t address the immediate concern of hypokalemia (3.1 mEq/L) caused by furosemide. This test is irrelevant to correcting the electrolyte imbalance or preventing further depletion, making it an inappropriate action in this scenario.
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