Nokea
While administering a medication that the nurse has researched and found to have limited effectiveness, the patient tells the nurse, I have read all about this drug and it is such a wonder drug. I'm so lucky my doctor prescribed it because I just know it will treat my problem. The nurse suspects this drug will be more effective than usual for this patient because of what effect?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A drug is more likely to be effective if the patient thinks it will work than if the patient believes it will not work. This is called the placebo effect. If a drug is taken in successive doses at intervals that are shorter than recommended, or if the body is unable to eliminate a drug properly, the drug can accumulate in the body, leading to toxic levels and adverse effects. This is a cumulative effect. First-pass effect addresses the reduction of available drug when taken orally due to metabolism in the liver before the drug reaches the bloodstream. Cross-tolerance is resistance to drugs within the same class.