Author Question: The nurse is medicating the patient daily with warfarin (Coumadin). The patient is having blood ... (Read 83 times)

Charlie · **on:** Jul 22, 2018

The nurse is medicating the patient daily with warfarin (Coumadin). The patient is having blood levels drawn daily to determine the dose needed. The nurse realizes that the goal is to reach which of the following?

a. The minimum effect concentration (MEC) in the plasma
b. Reach the peak concentration level of the medication
c. The level that falls between the MEC and toxic level
d. An adequate trough level in the plasma

Question 2

A patient is wearing an abdominal binder after abdominal surgery. What does the nurse need to assess and document about the patient?

a. Neurological response
b. Respiratory status
c. Lymphatic status
d. Genitourinary response

cdmart10 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

C
The goal of medication therapy is to achieve a constant, therapeutic level, which falls between the MEC and the toxic concentration. As patients take medication doses over time, the plasma level of the medication fluctuates constantly between doses. The minimum effect concentration (MEC) is the plasma level below which a patient does not experience the effect of a medication. The peak concentration is the highest plasma level, whereas the trough concentration is the lowest plasma level.

Answer to Question 2

B
Evaluate the patient's ability to ventilate properly, including deep breathing and coughing. An abdominal binder supports a large incision that is vulnerable to stress when a patient moves or coughs. Neurological, lymphatic, and genitourinary responses are not affected by the abdominal binder.