The nurse is teaching a patient the importance of taking the ...

[K@]

The nurse is teaching a patient the importance of taking the medication as prescribed. Patient teaching is guided by the nurse's knowledge of which principles of pharmacokinetics?
 
  1. A medication taken by injection must cross the membranes of the gastrointestinal tract to get to the blood stream before it can be distributed throughout the body.
  2. A drug may be exposed to several physiological processes while en route to target cells.
  3. Liver enzymes may chemically change the drug.
  4. Excretion organs such as kidneys and intestines must be healthy enough to eliminate the drug.
  5. Many processes to which drugs are exposed are destructive, thereby helping facilitate the drug's movement throughout the body.

Question 2

Which of the following would most accurately indicate that a therapeutic range for a medication had been reached?
 
  1. No serious adverse effects are experienced following administration.
  2. The indication for administration was achieved without serious side effects.
  3. A pre-specified amount (in milligrams) was administered.
  4. The medication was effective, but the patient experienced a lethal dysrhythmia.

[Ahnyah]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 2,3,4,5
Rationale 1: Medications taken by mouth must cross the membranes of the GI tracts to get to the blood stream in order to be distributed throughout the body. This is not the case for medications administered by injection.
Rationale 2: Drugs taken orally are often exposed to physiological processes such as stomach acid and digestive enzymes.
Rationale 3: Enzymes in the liver may chemically change some drugs.
Rationale 4: Drugs will continue to act on the body until they are either metabolized to an inactive form or are excreted. Pathologic states such as kidney disease can increase the drug's action on the body.
Rationale 5: Many destructive processes, such as when stomach acid breaks down food, can break down the drug molecule before it can reach the target cells. This will facilitate the drug's movement throughout the body.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale: The therapeutic range of a drug is between the minimum effective concentration and the toxic concentration.

[K@]

Gracias!

[patma1981]

Excellent