A client is in chronic renal failure. Based on this diagnosis, what would the nurse anticipate the client might require regarding medications?

Question

1. Higher dosages of medications than would a client with normally functioning kidneys
2. The same medication dosage as would a client with normally functioning kidneys
3. Lower dosage in most medications
4. A kidney transplant

Answer 1

3

Rationale 1:Higher dosages of medications than would a client with normally functioning kidneys is incorrect because most medications will require a significant dosage reduction in patients with moderate-to-severe renal failure, which is classified as acute or chronic.
Rationale 2:The same medication dosage as would a client with normally functioning kidneys is incorrect because most medications will require a significant dosage reduction in patients with moderate-to-severe renal failure.
Rationale 3: Because the kidneys excrete most drugs, most medications will require a significant dosage reduction in patients with moderate-to-severe renal failure, which is classified as acute or chronic. The client at some point might require a kidney transplant, but until then, the medication dosage would have to be adjusted.
Rationale 4:A kidney transplant is incorrect because the client might require a kidney transplant at some point, but this is not related to medication administration.

Global Rationale: Because the kidneys excrete most drugs, most medications will require a significant dosage reduction in patients with moderate-to-severe renal failure, which is classified as acute or chronic. The client at some point might require a kidney transplant, but until then, the medication dosage would have to be adjusted. Administering the "average" dose to a patient in severe renal failure can kill a patient.