The nurse prepares to change a patient's medication from an intravenous to an oral form and notes that the oral form is ordered in a higher dose. The nurse understands that this is due to differences in

a) Bioavailability refers to the proportion of the drug that reaches systemic circulation when administered by a particular route. The oral route typically has lower bioavailability than the intravenous route due to the first-pass metabolism in the liver. Therefore, when switching from an IV form to an oral form, the dose often needs to be higher to achieve the same therapeutic effect.

b) Pinocytosis is a form of endocytosis where cells absorb fluids and small molecules. While important in drug absorption, it is not the reason why oral doses are higher than IV doses.

c) Tachyphylaxis is a rapid tolerance to a drug after its administration, often requiring higher doses over time, but it does not directly explain the need for a higher oral dose.

d) Protein binding refers to how drugs bind to proteins in the blood, which can affect their distribution. However, this is not the main reason why oral doses are higher than IV doses.

a) The Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) is a valuable resource but is primarily designed for physicians. It contains drug manufacturer information but may lack nursing-specific details like patient education, nursing interventions, and administration guidelines.

b) A Nurse's Drug Guide/Handbook is the best resource for nurses because it includes essential nursing considerations such as patient education, side effects, contraindications, nursing interventions, and administration tips.

c) A drug package insert provides useful information but is not comprehensive and does not include nursing-specific recommendations. It primarily contains manufacturer-provided details on indications, dosing, and warnings.

d) Drug Facts and Comparisons is a resource primarily used by pharmacists for comparing medications rather than providing nursing-focused drug information.