Pharmacology Ch.49

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 patient has been receiving intramuscular injections of hydroxocobalamin as treatment for pernicious anemia. Which statement by the patient indicates that he understands the therapy?

"I will need these injections monthly for the rest of my life."

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."

The nurse is preparing to administer an erythropoiesis-stimulating drug. The nurse checks the patient's chart, with the knowledge that the drug should not be administered to a patient with a target hemoglobin above which value?

12 g/dL

The nurse is teaching a male patient receiving epoetin alfa about the drug. The nurse informs the patient that he will receive the drug at which frequency?

3 times a week

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

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

Which would be appropriate for a client who is receiving iron therapy?

Cautioning the client that stool may be dark or green

A patient who is HIV positive is receiving zidovudine 4,2000 mg/week and has an endogenous erythropoietin level of 350 mU/mL. What does the nurse anticipate will be administered for this patient?

Erythropoietin

The mature red blood cell contains a nucleus.

False

The pharmacology class learns that epoetin alfa is an immunosuppressant drug that is designed to have what expected outcome?

Increased RBC count

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.

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

A patient has been prescribed epoetin alfa. The nurse recognizes that this medication is indicated for treatment of anemia associated with which disease process?

Renal failure

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

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

True

When administering iron injections, which method would the nurse use?

Z-track intramuscular

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

A client with an allergy to epoetin alfa should be provided with education regarding the addition of what other medication?

epoetin beta

Red blood cells (RBCs) are mainly composed of _________________, which enables the cells to carry oxygen to the cells in the body.

hemoglobin

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 has suffered from a gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Which agent will assist in raising the hemoglobin?

Epoetin alfa

A patient is to be administered an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent. Which of the following drugs would the nurse administer?

Epoetin alfa

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 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

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

A client is receiving epoetin alfa for anemia. Which adjunctive therapy is imperative with epoetin alfa?

Iron supplementation

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 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