The client had a liver transplant and asks the nurse if she really needs all of those medications. How should the nurse respond?"

Question

1. "Yes, this is necessary for you to not reject the new liver, but in time you will be down to only one medication."
2. "Yes you need these medications so you won't reject your new liver, but with current cloning techniques in about 5 years you should be able to grow enough new liver cells to support your life."
3. "You need these medications because it is important to dampen your immune response so you won't reject your new liver."
4. "New research indicates that immunosuppressant drugs are only needed for 6 months after transplant."
5. "This seems excessive to me, too, but your physician ordered all of them."

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: Telling a client that in time she will be down to one medication is false reassurance; the nurse does not know this will occur.
Rationale 2: There are not any cloning techniques that will allow clients to grow new liver cells in a quantity to support life.
Rationale 3: The client needs medication to dampen her immune response so that she will not reject the new liver.
Rationale 4: There is no research indicating immunosuppressant drugs are not necessary.
Rationale 5: The nurse should know why each drug is being given and should not build doubt in the client's mind.