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 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."

A 50-year-old client is reporting that the client's oral B12 is not working. The nurse knows that the vitamin may have a decreased absorption rate when taken with other substances. The nurse would begin the history by asking which questions? (Select all that apply.)

1. "Do you use neomycin" 2. "Do you drink alcohol" 3. "do you take colchicine"

A nurse is reviewing the chart of a patient with megaloblastic anemia. What might be used in the treatment of this patient? (Select all that apply.)

1. Folic Acid 2. Vitamin B12

The average lifespan of a red blood cell (RBC) is approximately:

120 days.

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

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

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

Ineffective red blood cells

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 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

Mr. Lepp is a 63-year-old man who was diagnosed with colon cancer several weeks ago and who is scheduled to begin chemotherapy. He reports to the nurse that he read about the need for erythropoietin in an online forum for cancer patients and wants to explore the use of epoetin alfa with his oncologist. Which fact should underlie the nurse's response to Mr. Lepp?

The potential benefits of epoetin alfa must be weighed carefully against the potential adverse effects in cancer patients.

A client taking epoetin alfa requests changing the medication from the subcutaneous route to the PO route. How should the nurse respond?

This medication is destroyed in the stomach and can only be given by injection.

The component of the red blood cell that is not recycled is bilirubin.

True

A nursing instructor is teaching students about the myelin sheath of the central nervous system (CNS). The nurse knows that teaching has been effective when a student identifies which vitamin as necessary for the formation of the myelin sheath in the CNS?

Vitamin B12

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

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 diagnosed with sickle cell anemia. Which agent would the nurse expect to be ordered?

Hydroxyurea

What would be the priority nursing diagnosis for a patient who is prescribed epoetin alfa?

Impaired tissue oxygenation related to anemia

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."

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

Epoetin alfa

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. The nurse should ensure the client receive which adjunctive therapy?

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

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 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