Nokea
A patient is considering using herbal supplements and asks the nurse about them. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
- A. Herbal supplements are safe to use because they are regulated closely.
- B. Herbal supplements can affect the way other medications will act.
- C. Taking more than the recommended amount usually is not harmful because they are natural.
- D. The risk of the supplement interacting with any prescription medications is extremely low.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse needs to explain to the patient that just because an herbal supplement is labeled 'natural' does not mean the supplement is safe or without harmful effects. Herbal supplements can act the same way as drugs and can cause medical problems if not used correctly or if taken in large amounts. Herbal supplements are not regulated by the FDA, so products lack standardization in relation to purity and potency. In addition, the patient should be warned not to take more than the recommended dose of any herbal health product or supplement. The problems that these products can cause are much more likely to occur if the patient takes too much or takes them for too long.
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A nurse is preparing to administer a prescribed medication to a client. The nurse integrates knowledge of which of the following as a possible factor that could influence the drug response? Select all that apply.
- A. Age
- B. Polypharmacy
- C. Weight
- D. Sex
- E. Disease
Correct Answer: A,B,C,D,E
Rationale: Drug response can be influenced by the following factors: age, polypharmacy, weight, sex, disease, and genetics.
A nurse is preparing a teaching plan for a client who is prescribed an oral medication. As part of the plan, the nurse expects to describe the importance of absorption. The nurse would integrate knowledge of which of the following as a mechanism for absorption in the gastrointestinal tract? Select all that apply.
- A. Active transport
- B. Transposition
- C. Passive transport
- D. Endocytosis
- E. Pinocytosis
Correct Answer: A,C,E
Rationale: During absorption, the drug particles in the GI tract are moved into the body fluids via active transport, passive transport, and pinocytosis.
The FDA established a safety information and adverse events reporting program called MedWatch. Which individuals can access the MedWatch website to obtain safety alerts on drugs, devices, or dietary supplements? Select all that apply.
- A. Physicians
- B. Nurses
- C. Patients
- D. Pharmacists
- E. Caregivers
Correct Answer: A,B,C,D,E
Rationale: Anyone can access the MedWatch website to obtain safety alerts on drugs, devices, or dietary supplements.
Which of the following would the nurse identify as a factor that alters drug response in children and infants? Select all that apply.
- A. Slower gastric emptying
- B. Greater surface area
- C. Less protein binding
- D. Decreased body water content
- E. Less cutaneous fat
Correct Answer: A,B,C,E
Rationale: Children and infants are not small adults; therefore, they have altered pharmacokinetics. Factors that alter pharmacokinetics in children include slower gastric emptying, less cutaneous fat, greater surface area, increased body water content, less protein binding, and immature hepatic and renal function.
A nurse is reading a journal article about seasonal allergies and comes across the name of the drug loratadine. The nurse identifies this drug name as which of the following?
- A. Chemical
- B. Generic
- C. Trade
- D. Brand
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The generic name is the name given to a drug that can be made or marketed by any company and is the name given to the drug by the FDA. The chemical name is the scientific term that describes the molecular structure of the drugs, typically the chemical components. The trade or brand name of the drug is the name selected by a specific company for marketing purposes and is followed by a trademark symbol or registered trademark symbol.