Author Question: A 72-year-old male patient has arrived at the outpatient unit to receive an infusion of alemtuzumab ... (Read 161 times)

javeds · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

A 72-year-old male patient has arrived at the outpatient unit to receive an infusion of alemtuzumab (Compath).

The patient tells the nurse this is the second time his chronic lymphocytic leukemia has relapsed and the second time he will receive this drug because he failed alemtuzumab therapy after being treated with an alkylating agent. What is the priority nursing action? A) Calling the physician and questioning the order
B) Washing your hands
C) Beginning an intravenous infusion
D) Canceling the infusion

Question 2

The nurse is assessing a patient who reports taking cholestyramine (Questran) mixed with diet cola twice per day. What is an appropriate nursing diagnosis for this patient?

A) Acute pain related to central nervous system and GI effects
B) Constipation related to GI effects
C) Noncompliance related to how the drug is taken
D) Deficient knowledge regarding drug therapy

akpaschal · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

A
Feedback:
Monoclonal antibodies should be used cautiously in patients who have had previous administration of the monoclonal antibody (serious hypersensitivity reactions can occur with repeat administration). The nursing priority would be to question the order because the patient has already received alemtuzumab (Compath) previously and if the order is verified, this patient should be monitored very carefully, perhaps starting to infuse more slowly until the patient's reaction can be determined. Only after questioning the order and having it verified would the nurse perform hand hygiene and begin the infusion.

Answer to Question 2

D
Feedback:
Cholestyramine should be mixed with water or other noncarbonated fluids so the nurse now recognizes the need for medication teaching and chooses the nursing diagnosis related to deficient knowledge. Nothing in this question indicates that the patient is experiencing any adverse effects from the drug so that pain and constipation would not be optimal nursing diagnoses. Until the nurse assesses the patient's understanding of how to take the drug, it would be incorrect to assume noncompliance when it may actually be lack of understanding.