Chapter 49: Drugs Used to Treat Anemias
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."
After teaching a patient who is receiving ferrous sulfate about the drug therapy regimen, which patient statement indicates that the teaching was successful?
"My stools might turn dark or green."
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
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
An oncology nurse is providing care for an adult client who is currently immunocompromised. The nurse is aware of the physiology involved in hematopoiesis and immune function, including the salient role of cytokines. What is the primary role of cytokines in maintaining homeostasis?
Cytokines perform a regulatory role in the development of diverse blood cells.
A patient is to be administered an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent. Which of the following drugs would the nurse administer?
Epoetin alfa
What would be the priority nursing diagnosis for a patient who is prescribed epoetin alfa?
Impaired tissue oxygenation related to anemia
The nurse administers epoetin alfa (Epogen). What is the therapeutic response the nurse expects to assess?
Increased red blood cell 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 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
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
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
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
The component of the red blood cell that is not recycled is bilirubin. (T OR F)
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 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 is receiving darbepoetin alfa. The nurse would inform the client that he will be receiving this drug at which frequency?
once a week
