Practice Question
The nurse is preparing to administer epoetin alfa to a client with chronic kidney disease and anemia. Which action by the nurse demonstrates correct medication administration?Laboratory Reference Ranges: Hemoglobin 12-15 g/dL
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Injecting the medication subcutaneously as prescribed
Rationale:
🔷 Epoetin alfa is a synthetic form of erythropoietin used to treat anemia in chronic kidney disease by stimulating red blood cell production in the bone marrow.
🔷 The correct route of administration is subcutaneous (preferred) or slow IV infusion depending on the prescription. Subcutaneous injection provides a more sustained absorption and better effect.
🔷 The vial should not be shaken or vigorously agitated, as this can denature the protein and reduce its effectiveness. Instead, it should be gently swirled if needed.
🔷 The nurse should monitor hemoglobin levels regularly to prevent overcorrection. Therapy is typically held or reduced if hemoglobin exceeds 11 g/dL to decrease the risk of thromboembolic events, stroke, or hypertension.
🔷 Epoetin alfa is never given as an IV push; when given IV, it must be administered slowly to avoid adverse reactions.
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This question is from Exam 4 - Modules 7 and 8 which contains 69 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: General Exams
- Domain: Medical-surgical📚
- Answer Choices: 4