Question:What is the primary concern of the nurse administering narcotics and sedatives to a client with cirrhosis?
1. The kidneys cannot excrete the drug.
2. The liver cannot metabolize drugs effectively.
3. Hepatic enzymes potentiate these drugs to high levels.
4. Narcotics and sedatives are contraindicated in clients with cirrhosis.
Rationale: Liver diseases, such as cirrhosis, impede the effective metabolism of drugs. Drug levels may even build to dangerous levels in the blood. Narcotics and sedatives are metabolized in the liver, not the kidneys (1). Hepatic enzymes do not potentiate these drugs to high levels (3). Answer option 4, although a true statement itself, is not the rationale for cautious administration of narcotics and sedatives in the cirrhosis client.
Cognitive Level: Analysis
Nursing Process: Implementation
NCLEX Test Plan Category: Physiological Integrity
This week’s NCLEX exam practice question came from:
Manno: Mosby's Review Cards for the NCLEX-RN Examination, 3rd Edition, Card 141, Question77
No comments:
Post a Comment