A patient with severe psoriasis who is to be treated with a systemic drug, methotrexate, anxiously asks, "Is this drug safe? Are there some side effects I need to know about?" The nurse's best response would be:
1. "Yes, it is used to treat cancer and psoriasis, but it has no severe side effects."
2. "No, it is not a cancer drug, but you should ask your physician about concerns regarding your therapy."
3. "We use the drug with many kinds of patients, including cancer patients. You will have periodic blood tests."
4. "I don't know if it is used with cancer patients or not, but the drug can be used when conditions are as severe as yours."
3
Methotrexate is an immunosuppressive drug used to treat psoriasis that is nonresponsive to other protocols. Periodic blood tests are done to assess for leukopenia. Options 1 and 2 are erroneous information. Option 4 does not answer the patient's question.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: 1134-1135
OBJ: 6 TOP: Methotrexate Sodium
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
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