A nurse is caring for a client who has been taking epoetin alfa for 3 months.
Which of the following laboratory tests should the nurse monitor to determine the effectiveness of the medication?
AST.
Troponin.
T4.
Hgb.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A rationale:
AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) is a liver enzyme and its levels are used to assess liver function, not the effectiveness of epoetin alfa.
Choice B rationale:
Troponin is a cardiac marker used to diagnose heart attacks. It has no relation with the effectiveness of epoetin alfa.
Choice C rationale:
T4 (Thyroxine) is a thyroid hormone. Its levels indicate thyroid function, not the effectiveness of epoetin alfa.
Choice D rationale:
Hgb (Hemoglobin) levels are used to assess the effectiveness of epoetin alfa. Epoetin alfa is a medication that stimulates the production of red blood cells, thereby increasing hemoglobin levels in the blood. Normal hemoglobin levels are 13.5 to 17.5 g/dL in men and 12.0 to 15.5 g/dL in women.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
A respiratory rate of 10/min is lower than the normal range (12-20 breaths per minute for adults), indicating respiratory depression, which is a serious side effect of morphine and should be reported immediately.
Choice B rationale:
Facial flushing is a common side effect of morphine due to histamine release but it’s not life-threatening.
Choice C rationale:
Constipation is a common side effect of morphine and can be managed with laxatives and diet.
Choice D rationale:
Blood pressure 88/56 mm Hg is lower than the normal range (90/60mmHg to 120/80mmHg), indicating hypotension, which can be a side effect of morphine but it’s not as immediately life-threatening as respiratory depression.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Levalbuterol is a bronchodilator that relaxes muscles in the airways and increases air flow to the lungs. Therefore, a decrease in wheezing is a therapeutic effect of the medication, making this the correct choice.
Choice B rationale:
While levalbuterol can cause an increase in respiratory rate as a side effect, it is not considered a therapeutic effect of the medication. The primary goal of levalbuterol is to improve breathing by relaxing the muscles of the airways, not to increase respiratory rate.
Choice C rationale:
Levalbuterol does not directly affect nausea. It is primarily used to treat conditions related to breathing such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Choice D rationale:
An increased heart rate is a potential side effect of levalbuterol, not a therapeutic effect.
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