Your cancer patient has bone marrow suppression from their chemotherapy treatments, and is scheduled to receive Epoetin Alfa shots 3 times per week. Which of the following lab values would cause you to hold the administration of the medication for safety concerns?
Hgb of less than 11
aPTT of 120 seconds
Hgb of more than 11
PT/INR of 3.5
The Correct Answer is C
A. Epoetin Alfa is typically used to treat anemia, and it is often indicated when hemoglobin (Hgb) levels are below 11 g/dL. Therefore, if the Hgb is less than 11, it would be appropriate to administer the medication to help increase red blood cell production.
B. Do not hold. An activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) of 120 seconds indicates a prolonged coagulation time, which increases the risk of bleeding. However, Epoetin Alfa does not have a direct impact on coagulation, so this value alone would not warrant holding the medication.
C. Epoetin Alfa is generally not indicated if the Hgb level is already above 11 g/dL, particularly if there’s a risk of increasing the Hgb above the recommended therapeutic range (often above 12 g/dL). If the Hgb exceeds this level, the medication should be held to prevent complications such as thromboembolic events.
D. A PT/INR of 3.5 indicates a significantly prolonged prothrombin time, suggesting a high risk of bleeding. However, Epoetin Alfa does not directly cause bleeding.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. While obtaining a sputum culture is important for diagnosing a potential respiratory infection, it is not the immediate priority. The patient’s vital signs and oxygenation status need to be assessed first to ensure safety and to inform clinical decisions.
B. Assessing the patient’s vital signs and oxygen saturation is critical in this situation. The symptoms of disorientation, chills, and chest pain could indicate a serious condition such as pneumonia or pulmonary embolism.
C. Gathering a complete history is valuable for understanding the patient's condition and underlying causes of symptoms. However, this action should follow immediate assessments of vital signs and oxygen saturation, especially in a potentially unstable patient.
D. Administering the pneumococcal vaccine is important for prevention but is not an urgent action in this acute situation. The patient’s current symptoms require immediate assessment and intervention rather than preventive measures.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Diabetes Insipidus is primarily related to issues with the production of vasopressin (ADH) or the body's response to it, which is not directly caused by CKD. CKD may lead to fluid retention and imbalances, but it does not typically cause recurrent bouts of diabetes insipidus.
B. In CKD, the kidneys lose their ability to produce erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production in the bone marrow. Patients often require erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) like erythropoietin injections to manage anemia associated with CKD.
C. CKD patients are often hyperkalemic (high potassium levels) rather than hypokalemic. As kidney function declines, the kidneys struggle to excrete potassium, leading to elevated levels, which can cause serious complications.
D. CKD patients often experience hypocalcemia (low calcium levels) due to several factors, including decreased activation of vitamin D and imbalances in phosphate levels. While some patients may experience transient hypercalcemia due to treatments or dietary factors, chronic hypercalcemia is not typical in CKD.
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