Serum digoxin levels are monitored for potential toxicity. Monitoring should occur:
- A. Within 6 hours of the last dose
- B. Because a reference point is needed in adjusting a dose
- C. After three half-lives from the starting of the drug
- D. When a patient has stable renal function
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Monitoring after three half-lives (steady state) ensures accurate therapeutic levels.
You may also like to solve these questions
When involved in phase III drug evaluation studies, what responsibilities would the nurse have?
- A. Working with animals who are given experimental drugs
- B. Choosing appropriate patients to be involved in the drug study
- C. Monitoring and observing patients closely for adverse effects
- D. Conducting research to determine effectiveness of the drug
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Phase III studies involve use of a drug in a vast clinical population in which patients are asked to record any symptoms they experience while taking the drugs. Nurses may be responsible for helping collect and analyze the information to be shared with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but would not conduct research independently because nurses do not prescribe medications. Use of animals in drug testing is done in the preclinical trials. Select patients who are involved in phase II studies to participate in studies where the participants have the disease the drug is intended to treat. These patients are monitored closely for drug action and adverse effects. Phase I studies involve healthy human volunteers who are usually paid for their participation. Nurses may observe for adverse effects and toxicity.
A nurse is preparing to administer a prescribed drug. Which information about the drug would be most important for the nurse to know?
- A. Normal dosage range
- B. Special precautions in administration
- C. Drug's most common adverse effects
- D. All the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse must have factual knowledge of each drug given, the reason for use of the drug, the drug's general action, the more common adverse reactions associated with the drug, special precautions in administration (if any), and the normal dose ranges.
Cough and cold medications that contain a sympathomimetic decongestant such as phenylephrine should be used cautiously in what population:
- A. Older adults
- B. Hypertensive patients
- C. Infants
- D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Sympathomimetic decongestants like phenylephrine can raise blood pressure or cause adverse effects in older adults, hypertensives, and infants.
Which of the following is the most frequent cause of weight loss and decrease of apetite:
- A. While using insulin medications
- B. While treated with acarbose
- C. While treated with metformin
- D. While treated with glibenclamid
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Metformin often causes weight loss and reduced appetite as a side effect due to its effects on metabolism and gastrointestinal function.
Which of the following is natural mineralcorticoid:
- A. Methylprednisolone
- B. Betamethasone
- C. Triamcinolone
- D. Aldosterone
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Aldosterone is the primary natural mineralocorticoid, regulating sodium and potassium balance.