Exam 4: Cancer Side Effects Flashcards
what medication should be given to stimulate appetite?
megesterol
what should patients avoid doing while eating?
avoid drinking - they need to prioritize calories
what is the preferred antiemetic to give 30 min before chemo?
ondansetron
what temp of foods are best tolerated
room temp or cooler
what kind of diet should chemo patients be on?
high protein, high calorie & give supplements for caloric intake if needed
what is the normal albumin range
3.5 - 5
what is the albumin level that indicates malnutrition?
< 3.5
what is mucositis?
mucous membrane ulcers
what are some things that can be done for a patient with mucositis?
oral care before and after meals
rinse with saline 2x/day
soft toothbrush
soft foods
what should be avoided with mucositis?
avoid alcohol/ glycerine mouthwash
avoid hard foods
what is neutropenia?
low neutrophil count/ low WBC found in the CBC
neutropenia puts patients at a high risk for what?
infection
what are neutropenic precautions?
reverse isolation - protects the patient from us
what do you monitor closely in neutropenic patients?
temperature
what do you need to reduce/restrict with neutropenic patients?
no sick visitors
no fresh flowers/plants
can neutropenic patients share a vitals cart?
no! they must have one dedicated to only them
what medication can you give to boost neutrophil counts?
filgrastim
what patient teaching needs to be provided to neutropenic patients?
report temp above 100.4 - take temp daily
avoid crowds
no raw foods/ no fresh veggies
avoid yard work/gardening
don’t change litter box
wash dishes in hot water/ use dishwasher
use bleach solution/dishwasher to clean toothbrush daily
what is anemia?
decreased RBCs
what meds (4) are given to anemic patients
Epoetin alfa & ferrous sulfate
PRBCs
B12
what does epoetin alfa do?
increase RBC production
what do you need to monitor with epoetin alfa
BP - can cause HTN
what is ferrous sufate
iron supplement - key component of RBC
what is thrombocytopenia
decreased platelets
