NUR 2144 Pharmacology II Chapter 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."
A client diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia is learning about her prescribed iron supplement. Which additional information would the nurse include in the client's teaching plan?
"If constipation or diarrhea become severe, call your primary care provider."
A client prescribed epoetin alfa asks how the medication works. Which is the nurse's best response?
"Increases the release of cells to increase the hemoglobin and hematocrit levels."
The average lifespan of a red blood cell (RBC) is approximately:
120 days.
A patient with chronic renal failure receiving epoetin alfa will be having a total left hip arthroplasty. What supplementation should the patient receive prior to surgery?
An iron supplement
The home care nurse is caring for a client who is self-administering epoetin. What assessment is most important for the nurse to complete during the visit?
Blood pressure
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
The client is a woman 65 years of age being treated for anemia secondary to chronic kidney disease. The nurse explains to the client that she will be getting a prescription for Epogen. Which of the following additional information would the nurse provide?
Chronic kidney disease slows the production of red blood cells causing anemia. Epogen stimulates the production of red blood cells to treat anemia.
A client has chronic renal failure. As the disease progresses, the client is experiencing increasing shortness of breath, due to anemia. The nurse would anticipate which medication order?
Epoetin alfa
A patient is to be administered an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent. Which of the following drugs would the nurse administer?
Epoetin alfa
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
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?
Flulike symptoms
A female client has been prescribed epoetin alfa therapy for anemia associated with chemotherapy. What other nonpharmacologic remedies can the client use to improve her anemia?
Include in her diet green, leafy vegetables, beans, and organ meats that are high in iron.
A nurse has been assigned to a 43-year-old man who is to receive epoetin alfa therapy. The patient is HIV-positive and has anemia related to zidovudine therapy. The nurse will monitor:
Iron levels
The nurse is caring for a client who is receiving epoetin alfa. What adjunct treatment will the nurse expect the health care provider to order for this client?
Iron supplement
Adverse effects of epoetin and darbepoetin include increased risks of what condition?
Myocardial infarction
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
A client's current medical condition is suggestive of impaired erythropoiesis. Which laboratory study would be most clinically relevant in diagnosing this health problem?
RBC, hemoglobin, and hematocrit
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
A student nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a hematopoietic agent. To test the student's understanding, the nursing instructor states that the drug could be administered by what route?
Subcutaneous or Intravenous
Cyanocobalamin is a vitamin B12 in a nasal formulation.
True
The component of the red blood cell that is not recycled is bilirubin.
True
There is a risk of antibody production with the use of epoetin.
True
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
A male client is prescribed interferon. What is his probable diagnosis?
Viral hepatitis
When administering iron injections, which method would the nurse use?
Z-track intramuscular
A client has been receiving regular doses of epoetin alfa for several weeks, and the home care nurse has been monitoring the client's condition closely. When taking the client's vital signs, the nurse should pay particular attention to what assessment datum?
blood pressure
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.
A client, currently prescribed epoetin alfa, has recent blood work that reveals a hemoglobin level of 12.8 g/dL. What action does this assessment finding necessitate regarding the epoetin alfa?
temporarily withholding administration
A client is receiving epoetin alfa for anemia. Which adjunctive therapy is imperative with epoetin alfa?
Iron supplementation
A patient receives ferrous sulfate. The nurse would expect this drug to begin acting within which time frame?
4 days
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
