Ch 49: Drugs Used to Treat Anemias

The nurse is teaching a nursing student about anemia and knows that it is important to start by explaining the causes of anemia. Which statement is true about the cause of anemia?

"Anemia is a condition caused by reduced amounts of hemoglobin, causing less oxygen to be delivered to the tissues"

After teaching a group of students about anemias, the instructor determines that the teaching was effective when the students identify what as the critical issue?

Altered red blood cell production or deficient functioning of red blood cells

A client with a diagnosis of renal failure is being treated for anemia with epoetin alfa. Frequent assessment of which laboratory values should be prioritized before and during treatment?

CBC With the use of hematopoietic and immunostimulant drugs, a CBC with WBC differential and platelet count should be done before and during treatment to monitor response and prevent avoidable adverse reactions. It is not imperative to monitor liver enzymes or renal function.

A client who is undergoing chemotherapy for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma will soon begin treatment with epoetin alfa. The nurse should be aware that this drug may be administered by which route?

Epoetin alfa injection products come as a solution (liquid) to inject subcutaneously (just under the skin) or intravenously (into a vein)

The patient is being prescribed epoetin alfa for the treatment of anemia related to the renal failure. The patient also has a history of diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled hypertension, osteoarthritis, and hypothyroidism. Which of these conditions should the nurse bring to the physician's attention prior to administering the medication?

Uncontrolled hypertension The nurse should determine whether the patient has pre-existing uncontrolled hypertension, which is a contraindication for the use of epoetin alfa.

A client, diagnosed with chronic renal failure, has begun experiencing increasing shortness of breath. The nurse suspects that the client is experiencing symptoms associated with which resulting condition?

anemia

The nurse is assessing a patient diagnosed with anemia. What symptoms does the nurse expect to assess in the patient?

elevated heart and fatigue

A 69-year-old client has been diagnosed with malignant melanoma. The care team has collaborated with the client and her family and agreed on a plan of care that includes administration of interferon alfa-2b. After administering interferon alfa-2b, the oncology nurse should anticipate that the client may develop which adverse effect?

flu like symptoms

Which would a nurse identify as the primary issue associated with anemias?

ineffective red blood cells

A male client is self-administering epoetin in the home. The nurse encourages him to include what supplements as part of his daily medication regimen?

iron

A patient comes to the clinic reporting fatigue and pica. Laboratory findings reveal a low serum iron level and a low ferritin level. Upon evaluation of this assessment and laboratory data, the nurse suspects that the patient will be diagnosed with:

iron deficiency anemia

There is a risk of antibody production with the use of epoetin.

true

A male client is prescribed interferon. What is his probable diagnosis?

viral hepatitis

Which patient will be at the greatest risk for anemia and be the most likely candidate for epoetin alfa therapy?

A 62-year-old male with cancer Older adults who have cancer and are receiving chemotherapy are especially vulnerable to the adverse effects of anemia as a result of chemotherapy and would therefore be the most likely candidates for epoetin alfa therapy. Young adults over age 18, pregnant women, and patients with a high white blood cell count are not as vulnerable to anemia and would not require epoetin alfa therapy.

The nurse notes a decreased red blood cell (RBC) count, decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit, as well as a decreased mean corpuscular volume. This could be attributable to a decrease in secretion of what hormone?

Erythropoietin Erythropoietin is a hormone responsible for increasing hemoglobin, red blood cell counts, and mean corpuscular volume. Decreases in any of these could be attributed to a decrease in erythropoietin. The other hormones listed will not have the same effect on the blood studies.

A client who was diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia is worried because she does not know why she was prescribed iron supplements. The nurse teaches the client about which action of oral iron administration?

Iron acts by elevating the serum iron concentration to replenish hemoglobin to treat anemia.

After teaching a group of students about the types of anemia, the instructor determines that the teaching was successful when the students identify which anemia results from an inability to produce the intrinsic factor?

Pernicious anemia

The anemia that occurs with chronic renal failure is caused by the kidneys themselves. What inability of the kidneys causes anemia in chronic renal failure?

Produce erythropoietin

For what purpose would the nurse administer postoperative epoetin alfa to the client who is a Jehovah's Witness?

Reduce the need for allogenic blood transfusion

The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic kidney disease who is receiving epoetin alfa. Which assessment finding would be of greatest concern for the nurse?

Reports of calf pain on dorsiflexion of the foot The nurse should determine whether the patient has pre-existing vascular disease, because it may increase the patient's risk for developing thrombotic adverse effects.