A nurse is caring for a client who has chronic renal disease and is receiving therapy with epoetin alfa.
Which of the following laboratory results should the nurse review for an indication of a therapeutic effect of the medication?
The hematocrit (Hct).
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
The platelet count.
The leukocyte count.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale
The hematocrit (Hct). This statement is correct. Epoetin alfa is used to treat anemia by stimulating the production of red blood cells. An increase in hematocrit levels indicates a therapeutic effect of the medication, as it reflects an increase in the proportion of red blood cells in the blood.
Choice B rationale
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). This statement is incorrect. The ESR is a non- specific marker of inflammation and is not used to monitor the therapeutic effect of epoetin alfa. It does not provide information about red blood cell production or anemia.
Choice C rationale
The platelet count. This statement is incorrect. The platelet count measures the number of platelets in the blood, which are involved in clotting. It is not affected by epoetin alfa therapy and does not indicate the therapeutic effect of the medication.
Choice D rationale
The leukocyte count. This statement is incorrect. The leukocyte count measures the number of white blood cells in the blood, which are involved in the immune response. It is not affected by epoetin alfa therapy and does not indicate the therapeutic effect of the medication.
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View Related questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Coronary arteries decrease in diameter leading to insufficient blood, oxygen, and nutrients reaching the heart muscle. This is correct because atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries, causes the arteries to narrow. This narrowing reduces blood flow to the heart muscle, leading to ischemia and the manifestations of coronary artery disease, such as angina and myocardial infarction.
Choice B rationale
Manifestations occur due to dilation of coronary arteries with increased blood flow causing increased pressure. This is incorrect because the primary issue in coronary artery disease is the narrowing of the arteries, not their dilation. Increased blood flow and pressure are not typical causes of the manifestations of coronary artery disease.
Choice C rationale
Coronary arteries become more elastic causing the arteries to stretch as individuals age causing the heart not to receive enough oxygen. This is incorrect because the problem in coronary artery disease is not increased elasticity but rather the loss of elasticity and the buildup of plaque that narrows the arteries. As people age, the arteries tend to become less elastic, not more.
Choice D rationale
The heart and the coronary arteries weaken, leading to poor perfusion and resulting in angina. This is incorrect because the primary issue in coronary artery disease is the narrowing of the coronary arteries due to plaque buildup, not the weakening of the heart and arteries. While poor perfusion does result in angina, it is due to the narrowed arteries rather than weakened structures.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Bubbling of the water in the water seal chamber with exhalation. This statement is incorrect. Bubbling in the water seal chamber with exhalation can be normal and indicates that air is being expelled from the pleural space. It is not necessarily a cause for concern.
Choice B rationale
Eyelets are not visible. This statement is incorrect. The visibility of eyelets on the chest tube is not a standard indicator for notifying the provider. The focus should be on the function of the chest tube and the patient’s clinical status.
Choice C rationale
Movement of the trachea toward the unaffected side. This statement is correct. Tracheal deviation toward the unaffected side can indicate a tension pneumothorax, a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. It suggests that pressure is building up in the pleural space, compressing the lung and shifting the trachea.
Choice D rationale
Crepitus in the area above and surrounding the insertion site. This statement is incorrect. Crepitus, or subcutaneous emphysema, can occur when air leaks into the subcutaneous tissue around the chest tube insertion site. While it should be monitored, it is not necessarily an emergency requiring immediate notification of the provider. .