The patient receives antibiotics for a serious infection. The patient asks the nurse, "Why don't you just give me more of that drug to cure this infection faster?" What is the best response by the nurse?
1. "I will check with the doctor to see if it is time to increase the medication."
2. "You are at a maximum dose; taking more will cause interactions with other medications."
3. "You must stay on this drug for 2 more weeks before it can be increased."
4. "You are at a maximum dose; taking more will not help."
4
Rationale 1: Telling the patient the nurse will check with the physician is inappropriate because the plateau of the drug has been reached; the physician will not change the dosage.
Rationale 2: An increase in dosage may cause interactions with other medications, but this is not the best answer.
Rationale 3: Once the plateau of a drug has been reached, there is no time frame for an increase in dosage because an increase in dosage will not produce a greater effect.
Rationale 4: When the plateau of a drug has been reached, administering more of the drug will not produce additional benefit. Once the plateau of a drug has been reached, there is no time frame for an increase in dosage because an increase in dosage will not produce a greater effect. Telling the patient the nurse will check with the physician is inappropriate because the plateau of the drug has been reached; the physician will not change the dosage. An increase in dosage may cause interactions with other medications, but this is not the best answer.
Global Rationale: When the plateau of a drug has been reached, administering more of the drug will not produce additional benefit. Once the plateau of a drug has been reached, there is no time frame for an increase in dosage because an increase in dosage will not produce a greater effect. Telling the patient the nurse will check with the physician is inappropriate because the plateau of the drug has been reached; the physician will not change the dosage. An increase in dosage may cause interactions with other medications, but this is not the best answer.
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