A nurse is providing education about the various routes of nitroglycerin (NTG). The nurse correctly states that sublingual NTG can be used in lower dosages than drugs given by other routes, because it
a. is not directly absorbed into the bloodstream.
b. bypasses the liver.
c. is 100 times more potent.
d. is acid labile.
ANS: B
Sublingual (SL) medications are not subject to the first-pass effect of the liver. Oral (PO) nitroglycerin, on the other hand, undergoes rapid inactivation by hepatic enzymes.
SL nitroglycerin is directly absorbed into the bloodstream.
SL nitroglycerin is not 100 times higher than the PO dose; however, it is immediately available to the system, because it is not broken down by the liver.
SL nitroglycerin is not acid labile; it is not even exposed to the gut.
You might also like to view...
The nurse understands that negative-pressure wound therapy may be used in the treatment of partial-thickness burn wounds to do which of the following?
a. Maintain a closed wound system to decrease the risk of infection. b. Remove excessive wound fluid and promote moist wound healing. c. Increase patient mobility with large burn wounds. d. Quantify wound drainage amount for more accurate output assessment.
A nurse is assessing a child with Klinefelter's syndrome. Which of the following would the nurse expect to assess? (Select all that apply.)
A) Gross mental retardation B) Long arms C) Profuse body hair D) Gynecomastia E) Enlarged testicles
The nurse is preparing to assess the eyes of a 78-year-old client who has clinical depression. The nurse anticipates that a normal finding for this client would include:
A) Rigidity of irises. B) Increased pupil size. C) Myopia. D) Impaired adaptation to light.
When the nurse observes a newborn infant demonstrating an irregular abdominal breathing pattern, with a respiratory rate of 50 breaths/minute with occasional pauses in breathing of 5-second durations,
the most appropriate action by the nurse is to A) Begin resuscitation efforts B) Elevate the head of the crib C) Continue to assess the infant D) Position the infant side-lying