A client is prescribed antibiotics while awaiting the results of their wound culture. The nurse understands this method of medication therapy is known as:

A) The nurse reports the error to the physician and the charge nurse but does not document the error due to possible legal action: Ethical reporting includes thorough documentation of the error, regardless of potential legal implications. Failing to document the error could compromise patient safety and the quality of care, and it does not fulfill the requirement for transparent and comprehensive reporting.

B) The nurse does not report or document the error, since the error did not result in any harm to the patient: Ethical reporting of medication errors involves documenting and reporting all errors, regardless of whether harm occurred. This helps in preventing future errors and maintaining a culture of safety and accountability.

C) The nurse does not report the error, because the error was caught and corrected prior to drug administration: Even if the error was corrected before administration, it is crucial to report and document the incident. This practice helps identify potential systemic issues and improve safety protocols.

D) The nurse informs the patient, documents the error as per hospital policy, and notifies the physician: This action demonstrates ethical reporting as it includes informing the patient about the error, thoroughly documenting it according to hospital policy, and notifying the physician. This comprehensive approach ensures transparency, patient safety, and adherence to institutional guidelines.

A. Absorption:
Chronic liver failure primarily affects the metabolism of drugs rather than their absorption. While liver disease can impact various bodily functions, the absorption of medications is generally more influenced by gastrointestinal factors and not as directly affected by liver function.

B. Excretion:
Excretion of drugs is primarily managed by the kidneys, not the liver. While liver failure can lead to changes in drug metabolism, it does not directly impair the excretion process, which is largely renal. However, compromised liver function can indirectly affect renal excretion due to altered pharmacokinetics.

C. Metabolism:
Liver failure significantly affects drug metabolism. The liver is the primary site for the metabolism of many medications, converting drugs into more water-soluble compounds for excretion. In chronic liver failure, the liver's ability to metabolize drugs is impaired, leading to potential drug accumulation and increased risk of toxicity. This step of pharmacokinetics is most directly impacted by liver dysfunction.

D. Distribution:
While liver function can affect drug distribution to some extent, it is not as directly impacted as metabolism. Distribution can be influenced by factors such as changes in plasma protein levels and blood flow, but the liver's primary role in drug metabolism is more directly affected by chronic liver failure.