Anemia Drugs Flashcards
A patient is to receive iron dextran (Dexiron®) injections. What should the nurse use to administer this medication?
a. Intravenous (IV) injection mixed with 5% dextrose
b. Intramuscular (IM) injection in the upper arm
c. IM injection using the Z-track method
d. Subcutaneous injection with a half-inch, 29-gauge needle
ANS: C
With the Z-track method, IM iron should be given deep into a large muscle mass.
A patient is prescribed oral iron supplementation. What should the nurse tell the patient to do while on this treatment?
a. Take the iron tablets with milk or antacids.
b. Crush the pills as needed to help swallowing.
c. Avoid reclining positions for up to 30 minutes after taking the drug.
d. You do not need to eat foods that are high in iron, such as meat, dark green leafy vegetables, and dried beans.
ANS: C
To prevent esophageal irritation or corrosion, patients on an iron supplement should avoid reclining positions for 15 to 30 minutes after taking the drug. Antacids and milk may cause decreased iron absorption; iron tablets should be taken whole and not crushed; and clients should continue to eat foods high in iron.
What may occur as a result of therapy with iron preparations?
a. Palpitations
b. Dizziness and syncope
c. Black and red tarry stools
d. Yellow discoloration of the urine
ANS: C
Black and red tarry stools and other gastrointestinal disturbances may occur as a result of taking iron preparations.
A patient has been taking iron supplements for anemia for 4 weeks. Which therapeutic response should the patient be taught to watch for?
a. Decreased weight
b. Absence of fatigue
c. Decreased palpitations
d. Decreased visual disturbances
ANS: B
Absence of fatigue, increased activity tolerance and well-being, and increased nutritional status are therapeutic responses to iron supplementation.
Before administering iron supplements, the nurse should assess for which contraindication?
a. Poor nutrition
b. Hemolytic anemia
c. Weakness and fatigue
d. Decreased hemoglobin
ANS: B
Hemolytic anemia is a contraindication to the use of iron supplements. Poor nutrition, weakness and fatigue, and decreased hemoglobin are related to iron deficiency anemia.
When ferrous fumarate (Palafer®) is given to infants, what is the onset of action time period?
a. 10 to 12 hours
b. 24 to 48 hours
c. 3 to 10 days
d. 14 to 21 days
ANS: C
The onset of action for ferrous fumarate is 3 to 10 days.
The nurse is teaching a patient about the oral administration of iron preparations. What will increase the absorption of iron?
a. Milk
b. Yogourt
c. Antacids
d. Ascorbic acid
ANS: D
Ascorbic acid enhances the absorption of oral iron. Antacids, milk, and yogourt may interfere with absorption
A patient is taking a liquid form of an iron product. What should the nurse tell the patient to do when taking this product?
a. Follow the dose with milk.
b. Take the medication through a plastic straw.
c. Mix the dose with juice and sip slowly.
d. Drink the medication undiluted from a measured medicine cup.
ANS: B
Liquid oral forms of iron should be taken through a plastic straw to avoid discoloration of tooth enamel. Milk may decrease absorption. Because liquid iron can stain the teeth, the patient should not sip or drink it directly.
A woman is planning to become pregnant in the next year. To reduce the risk for fetal neural tube defects, she should ensure that she receives adequate levels of what?
a. Vitamin B12
b. Vitamin C
c. Iron
d. Folic acid
ANS: D
To reduce the risk for fetal neural tube defects, administration of folic acid is recommended to begin at least 1 month before pregnancy and to continue through early pregnancy.
The nurse is administering medications to a patient with a new diagnosis of anemia. Which is a true statement about treatment with folic acid?
a. Folic acid is used to treat any type of anemia.
b. The cause of the anemia should be determined before treatment with folic acid.
c. Folic acid is used to treat pernicious anemia.
d. Folic acid is used to treat iron deficiency anemia.
ANS: B
Folic acid should not be used to treat anemia until the underlying cause and type of anemia are identified. Administering folic acid to a patient with pernicious anemia may correct the hematological changes of anemia, but the symptoms of pernicious anemia (which is due to a vitamin B12 deficiency, not a folic acid deficiency) may be deceptively masked.
A patient will be taking oral iron supplements. Which statements should the nurse include when teaching this patient? (Select all that apply.)
a. Take the iron tablets with an antacid.
b. Take the iron on an empty stomach 1 hour before meals.
c. Take the iron with meals.
d. Drink 250 mL of milk with each iron dose.
e. Taking iron supplements with orange juice enhances iron absorption.
f. Stools may become loose and light-coloured.
g. Stools may become black and tarry.
h. Iron tablets may be crushed to enhance iron absorption.
ANS: C, E, G
Iron tablets should be taken with meals in order to reduce gastrointestinal distress, but antacids and milk interfere with absorption. Stools may become black and tarry in patients who are on iron supplements. Tablets should be taken whole, not crushed, and the patient should be encouraged to eat foods high in iron. It is recommended to take oral iron with orange juice (because vitamin C
