A nurse working in an urgent care clinic is collecting data from a client who takes montelukast.
Which of the following is an expected therapeutic effect of this medication?

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.

Choice A rationale:

Ketorolac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for pain relief after surgery. However, it’s not typically administered every 3 hours. Overuse can lead to serious side effects.

Choice B rationale:

If the client’s pain level remains high after receiving ketorolac, administering an opioid medication like oxycodone may be appropriate.

Choice C rationale:

While acetaminophen can be used for pain relief, rectal administration is not typically the first choice for postoperative pain management.

Choice D rationale:

It’s inappropriate to label a patient as exhibiting drug-seeking behaviors simply because their reported pain level remains high after medication. Pain is subjective and should be addressed appropriately.