Chronic Illness Questions Related

Review Chronic Illness Questions related questions and content

A client hospitalized for chemotherapy has a hemoglobin of $6.1 mg/dL. What medication should the nurse prepare to administer?

  • A. Epoetin alfa (Epogen)
  • B. Filgrastim (Neupogen)
  • C. Mesna (Mesnex)
  • D. Oprelvekin (Neumega)
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: A hemoglobin of 6.1 mg/dL (normal 12-16 g/dL for women, 13-18 g/dL for men) indicates severe anemia, often from chemotherapy suppressing bone marrow red cell production. The nurse should prepare epoetin alfa (Epogen), a synthetic erythropoietin that stimulates red blood cell production, addressing anemia directly. Filgrastim (Neupogen) boosts white cells for neutropenia, not hemoglobin. Mesna (Mesnex) protects the bladder from chemotherapy toxicity, irrelevant here. Oprelvekin (Neumega) increases platelets, not red cells. Administering epoetin alfa corrects the anemia, improving oxygen delivery and reducing symptoms like fatigue and dyspnea, a critical intervention in oncology to support the client's recovery and quality of life during treatment.