Pharmacology, Ch. 3: Toxic Effects of Drugs

The nurse provides health education for a diverse group of clients. For which client should the nurse emphasize the risk of teratogenic drug effects?

20-year-old female client who has been diagnosed with a chlamydial infection (The risk of teratogenicity is a priority consideration for female clients of child-bearing age, not for males or prepubescent girls)

The nurse should have basic knowledge of drug classifications in order to administer medications safely to clients. What drug information is instrumental in determining nursing actions following drug administration?

Adverse effects

The nurse is called to a client's room 15 minutes after the client has received a new medication. The client reports pruritus as well as nausea. The nurse notes that the client appears pale, is sweating, and has begun to cough and wheeze. The nurse determines that the client is experiencing what type of reaction related to the new medication?

Anaphylactic shock

The nurse is conducting an admission assessment of a new client. When asked about any food or drug allergies, the client states that the client is allergic to tetracycline. What action should the nurse next perform?

Ask the client, "What happens when you take a dose of tetracycline?"

The nurse is assessing a new client who states being allergic to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs. What subsequent assessment should the nurse prioritize?

Asking the client what the client's response is to taking NSAIDs

A client is prescribed a combination of medications to treat the disease process. The client is exhibiting signs of toxicity related to the new drug regimen. A possible cause of the change in the absorption of the medications may be enzyme inhibition. What is true of enzyme inhibition? (Select all that apply.)

It may occur with concurrent administration of two or more drugs that compete for the same metabolizing enzymes. It may necessitate the administration of smaller doses of the medication. e. It occurs within seconds or minutes of starting an inhibiting agent.

The nurse is caring for a client who exhibits an excessive response to a secondary effect of a drug, which the nurse classifies as a hypersensitivity response. What factors can potentially contribute to a hypersensitivity reaction? (Select all that apply.)

Pathological condition, unique receptors and cellular responses, and age-related changes

The nurse is reviewing the laboratory test results of a client receiving drug therapy. What would the nurse suspect if the results reveal an elevation in the blood urea nitrogen level and creatinine concentration?

Renal injury

A client receiving drug therapy develops numbness and tingling in the extremities and muscle cramps. What assessment should the nurse perform?

Review the client's most recent potassium level.

The nurse has begun the intravenous infusion of the first dose of a client's prescribed antibiotic. A few minutes later, the client is diaphoretic, gasping for breath and has a heart rate of 145 beats per minute. After calling for help, what is the nurse's priority action?

Protecting and maintaining the patency of the client's airway