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A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has anemia and a new prescription for epoetin alfa. Which of the following pieces of information should the nurse include in the teaching?

1) Dietary sources of iron
2) Side effects of epoetin alfa
3) How to administer epoetin alfa
4) Symptoms of anemia

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

When providing teaching to a client with anemia and a new prescription for epoetin alfa, the nurse should prioritize information related to the medication and its administration. Therefore, the most relevant piece of information to include in the teaching is: 3) How to administer epoetin alfa.

Step-by-step explanation:

When teaching a client who has anemia and a new prescription for epoetin alfa, a nurse should include several key pieces of information:

  • Importance of dietary sources of iron such as red meat, legumes, and spinach to support erythropoiesis.
  • Potential side effects of epoetin alfa, like increased blood viscosity, which may pose a risk for complications.
  • Instructions on how to administer epoetin alfa correctly, including dosage and injection technique.
  • Symptoms of anemia like weakness and fatigue that should be monitored and reported if they occur.

Moreover, understanding that epoetin alfa stimulates the production of erythrocytes and increases oxygen delivery to tissues is critical, but its misuse, particularly in athletic performance enhancement, is dangerous due to the risk of excessively increased blood viscosity and potential cardiovascular events.

Therefore, the most relevant piece of information to include in the teaching is: 3) How to administer epoetin alfa

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