Author Question: The nurse explains to a student nurse that the median lethal dose of drugs is often determined in ... (Read 311 times)

Tazate · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

The nurse explains to a student nurse that the median lethal dose of drugs is often determined in laboratory preclinical trials because

1. it would be unethical to determine these values in human subjects.
2. the safety of the medication must be determined prior to clinical trials.
3. it is difficult to obtain sufficient participants for clinical trials.
4. clinical trials determine only the effective dose of a drug.
5. it is too costly to conduct the studies during clinical trials.

Question 2

The nurse is participating in the clinical trial of a new medication for the treatment of hypertension.

To assess the effectiveness of the medication, which interventions would the nurse perform to help determine whether the average dose is effective for the patient?
1. Monitoring blood pressure
2. Monitoring heart rate
3. Interpreting laboratory values
4. Monitoring diet
5. Monitoring sleep habits

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

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1,2
Rationale 1: Laboratory animals are used in clinical trials to determine the LD50, or the dose that kills 50 of the subjects. It would be unethical to kill human subjects.
Rationale 2: Before a drug is released for trials in human subjects, its safety must be determined.
Rationale 3: It can be challenging to obtain sufficient subjects at times, but this is not the reason for doing lethal studies during preclinical trials.
Rationale 4: Clinical trials determine not only the effectiveness of a drug, but also its adverse and toxic effects.
Rationale 5: The cost of the trials is the reason they are conducted with animal subjects.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1,2,3
Rationale 1: By monitoring the patient's vital signs, the nurse helps to determine whether the average dose is effective for the patient.
Rationale 2: By monitoring the patient's vital signs, the nurse helps to determine whether the average dose is effective for the patient.
Rationale 3: By interpreting any associated laboratory data, the nurse helps to determine whether the average dose is effective for the patient.
Rationale 4: Monitoring the patient's diet will not help determine if the average dose of a medication is effective for the patient.
Rationale 5: Monitoring the patient's sleep habits will not help determine if the average dose of a medication is effective for the patient.