The nurse is providing counseling to a woman who is HIV positive and has just discovered that she is pregnant.
Which anti-HIV drug is given to HIV-infected pregnant women to prevent transmission of the virus to the infant?

Choice A rationale:

The statement “The intravenous medication will have delayed absorption into the body’s tissues” is incorrect. Intravenous (IV) therapy is administering fluids directly into a vein. It benefits treatment by enabling water, medication, blood, or nutrients to access the body faster through the circulatory system. This bypasses the gastric system so the body can take on more fluids quickly. Therefore, the absorption of intravenous medication into the body’s tissues is not delayed but rather immediate.

Choice B rationale:

The statement “The action of the medication will begin sooner when given intravenously” is correct. Administering a medication intravenously eliminates the process of drug absorption and breakdown by directly depositing it into the blood. This results in the immediate elevation of serum levels and high concentration in vital organs, such as the heart, brain, and kidneys. Therefore, the action of the medication begins sooner when given intravenously.

Choice C rationale:

The statement “The medication will cause fewer adverse effects when given intravenously” is not necessarily true. While some medications might cause fewer adverse effects when given intravenously, this is not a general rule for all medications. The adverse effects of a medication depend on various factors including the type of medication, the dose, the patient’s health condition, and more.

Choice D rationale:

The statement “There is a lower chance of allergic reactions when drugs are given intravenously” is not necessarily true. The chance of allergic reactions depends on various factors including the type of drug, the patient’s immune response, previous exposure to the drug, and more. It’s not related to the route of administration.

Step 1: Identify the given values. The nurse needs to administer 2.5 mg of hydromorphone. The available amount is 5 mg/5 mL.

Step 2: Set up the calculation. We need to find out how many mL correspond to 2.5 mg. We can set up a proportion using the given values:

5 mL5 mg=x mL2.5 mg

Step 3: Solve for x. Cross-multiply and solve for x:

5 mg×x mL=2.5 mg×5 mL

Step 4: Simplify the equation:

x=5 mg.5 mg×5 mL

Step 5: Calculate the value of x:

x=2.5 mL

So, the nurse should administer 2.5 mL of the hydromorphone elixir.