Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is taking epoetin alfa. Which of the following laboratory tests should the nurse monitor to determine the effectiveness of the medication? (Select all that apply.)
A. Thyroid-stimulating hormone
B. Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin: Epoetin alfa is a medication used to treat anemia by stimulating red blood cell production. Monitoring hemoglobin levels can help assess if the medication is effectively increasing red blood cell production and improving anemia.
C. Blood glucose
D. Alanine aminotransferase
E. Iron
Iron is essential for red blood cell production. Monitoring iron levels can help determine if the client has adequate iron stores to support the increased production of red blood cells stimulated by epoetin alfa.
This question is an excerpt from Nurse Dive's nursing test bank - RN VATI Pharmacology S 2019 Proctored Exam. Take the full exam now
Full Explanation
The nurse should monitor the following laboratory tests to determine the effectiveness of epoetin alfa:
B. Hemoglobin: Epoetin alfa is a medication used to treat anemia by stimulating red blood cell production. Monitoring hemoglobin levels can help assess if the medication is effectively increasing red blood cell production and improving anemia.
E. Iron: Iron is essential for red blood cell production. Monitoring iron levels can help determine if the client has adequate iron stores to support the increased production of red blood cells stimulated by epoetin alfa.
The other options listed, A. Thyroid-stimulating hormone, C. Blood glucose, and D. Alanine aminotransferase, are not directly related to the effectiveness of epoetin alfa in treating anemia. Thyroid-stimulating hormone is related to thyroid function, blood glucose is related to blood sugar control, and alanine aminotransferase is related to liver function. While these tests may be important for monitoring the overall health of the client, they are not specific indicators of the effectiveness of epoetin alfa.
Similar Questions
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving neostigmine. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse identify as an adverse reaction to the medication? (Select all that apply.)
A. Hypoactive bowel sounds
Hypoactive bowel sounds: Neostigmine can actually increase gastrointestinal motility and may cause increased bowel sounds or even diarrhea, not hypoactive bowel sounds. Therefore, hypoactive bowel sounds are not an adverse reaction to neostigmine.
B. Sweating
Sweating: Sweating is a cholinergic effect and can be an adverse reaction to neostigmine. Increased sweating is a common sign of cholinergic stimulation.
C. Respiratory distress
Respiratory distress: Respiratory distress can occur as an adverse reaction to neostigmine, particularly if the client has a history of asthma or other respiratory conditions. Neostigmine can cause bronchoconstriction and excessive secretions, leading to respiratory distress.
D. Urinary retention
Urinary retention: Neostigmine is actually used to treat urinary retention by increasing bladder contraction. Therefore, urinary retention is not an adverse reaction to neostigmine.
E. Bradycardia
Bradycardia: Bradycardia (slow heart rate) is a significant adverse reaction to neostigmine due to its cholinergic effects on the heart. Increased acetylcholine levels can lead to excessive stimulation of the vagus nerve, resulting in bradycardia.
Full Explanation
Neostigmine is a medication classified as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. It is commonly used to treat myasthenia gravis and to reverse the effects of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents used during surgery. Adverse reactions to neostigmine are related to its cholinergic effects, which result from increased acetylcholine levels in the body.
Let's go through the options:
A. Hypoactive bowel sounds: Neostigmine can actually increase gastrointestinal motility and may cause increased bowel sounds or even diarrhea, not hypoactive bowel sounds. Therefore, hypoactive bowel sounds are not an adverse reaction to neostigmine.
B. Sweating: Sweating is a cholinergic effect and can be an adverse reaction to neostigmine. Increased sweating is a common sign of cholinergic stimulation.
C. Respiratory distress: Respiratory distress can occur as an adverse reaction to neostigmine, particularly if the client has a history of asthma or other respiratory conditions. Neostigmine can cause bronchoconstriction and excessive secretions, leading to respiratory distress.
D. Urinary retention: Neostigmine is actually used to treat urinary retention by increasing bladder contraction. Therefore, urinary retention is not an adverse reaction to neostigmine.
E. Bradycardia: Bradycardia (slow heart rate) is a significant adverse reaction to neostigmine due to its cholinergic effects on the heart. Increased acetylcholine levels can lead to excessive stimulation of the vagus nerve, resulting in bradycardia.
A nurse is preparing to administer morphine 8 mg IV intermittent bolus to a client. The amount available is morphine 10 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
(Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Full Explanation
To calculate the amount of morphine to administer, we can use the following formula:
Amount of medication (mL) = Desired dose (mg) / Concentration (mg/mL)
In this case, the desired dose is 8 mg and the concentration is 10 mg/mL.
Amount of medication (mL) = 8 mg / 10 mg/mL
Amount of medication (mL) = 0.8 mL
Therefore, the nurse should administer 0.8 mL of morphine.
A nurse is preparing to administer ampicillin/sulbactam 15 g via intermittent IV bolus, Available is ampicillin-sulbactam 1.5 g in 0.9% sodium chloride 100 mL to infuse over 30 min. The nurse should set the IV infusion pump to deliver how many mL/h?
(Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies in not use a trailing zero)
Full Explanation
To determine the infusion rate in mL/h, we need to divide the total volume (100 mL) by the total time (30 minutes) and then convert the result to hours.
100 mL / 30 min = 3.33 mL/min
To convert minutes to hours, we multiply by 60:
3.33 mL/min * 60 min/h = 199.8 mL/h
Rounding to the nearest whole number, the nurse should set the IV infusion pump to deliver 200 mL/h.