A patient is taking a drug that has known toxic side effects. What will the nurse do?

Choice A Reason:

An idiosyncratic effect is an unusual or unexpected reaction to a drug that is not related to the dose and is not a common side effect. These reactions are often due to genetic differences in metabolism or immune response. In this case, shortness of breath is a known reaction for some patients taking the drug, so it is not considered idiosyncratic.

Choice B Reason:

A teratogenic effect refers to a drug’s potential to cause developmental abnormalities in a fetus when taken by a pregnant woman. Since the patient is experiencing shortness of breath, which is a known reaction to the drug, this choice is not relevant to the situation.

Choice C Reason:

This is the correct answer. A side effect is a secondary, typically undesirable effect of a drug or medical treatment. Since the nurse found that shortness of breath is a known reaction for some patients taking the drug, it is classified as a side effect. The nurse should report this to the provider to ensure proper management and monitoring.

Choice D Reason:

The symptom of shortness of breath is related to the medication administration, as confirmed by the drug administration manual. Therefore, this choice is incorrect. The nurse must report the side effect to the provider for appropriate action.

Choice A Reason:

Atrophy refers to the reduction in size or wasting away of an organ or tissue due to a decrease in cell size or number. It is not a type of cell death but rather a process of cell shrinkage and loss of function. Therefore, it does not directly relate to the damage caused to nearby cells.

Choice B Reason:

This is the correct answer. Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death that occurs in a controlled and regulated manner. It allows for the removal of damaged or unnecessary cells without causing an inflammatory response or damage to surrounding tissues. During apoptosis, cellular components are neatly packaged into vesicles called apoptotic bodies, which are then phagocytosed by neighboring cells or immune cells, preventing the release of harmful substances.

Choice C Reason:

Necrosis is a form of traumatic cell death that results from acute cellular injury. It often leads to the uncontrolled release of cellular contents, causing inflammation and damage to surrounding tissues. This process can be detrimental to nearby cells and is generally considered more harmful than apoptosis.

Choice D Reason:

Lysis refers to the breaking down or destruction of cells, often due to external factors such as toxins, infections, or immune responses. Like necrosis, lysis can result in the release of cellular contents into the surrounding environment, leading to inflammation and damage to nearby cells.