The nurse administers narcotics to surgical patients. Which ...

[skymedlock]

The nurse administers narcotics to surgical patients. Which statement represents the nurse's best understanding as it relates to the potency of different narcotics?
 
  1. Codeine is less potent than morphine; it will not produce an allergic reaction.
  2. Morphine is more potent than codeine; a lesser dose will be required.
  3. Morphine is more potent than codeine; it will produce more adverse effects.
  4. Codeine is less potent than morphine; it will not relieve pain as well.

Question 2

The nursing instructor prepares to teach student nurses about how mean effective doses of medications are related to clinical practice. As a result of the instruction, what is the best understanding of the student nurses?
 
  1. About 50 of patients will experience severe side effects from the drug.
  2. Some patients will respond differently depending on their ethnic background.
  3. About 50 of patients will not experience any effect from the drug.
  4. Some patients will require more or less than the average dose of the drug.

[sultansheikh]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale: A drug that is more potent will produce a therapeutic effect at a lower dose. Potency does not mean the drug will produce more adverse effects. Less potent narcotics can be very effective with pain relief. The potency of a drug is not related to its ability to cause an allergic reaction.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 4
Rationale: The mean effective dose predicts how 50 of the population will respond to the average dose of the drug. Some patients will require more or less of the drug. The mean effective dose is not related to ethnicity. The mean effective dose does not predict how many patients will experience severe side effects from the drug. The mean effective dose does not predict that 50 of patients will not experience any effect of the drug.