Question

A nurse is caring for a client who has chronic kidney disease and has been receiving epoetin alfa for 2 weeks. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the client's medication is having the desired therapeutic effect?

A) albumin is within the expected reference range
B) urine output increases to 60 mL/hr
C) hemoglobin rises 0.5 g/dL
D) blood urea nitrogen level is within the expected reference range

Answer 1

The nurse should look for a rise in hemoglobin level (option C) to indicate that the client's medication, epoetin alfa, is having the desired therapeutic effect.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should look for a rise in hemoglobin level (option C) to indicate that the client's medication, epoetin alfa, is having the desired therapeutic effect. Epoetin alfa is a medication that stimulates the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow. It is commonly used to treat anemia associated with chronic kidney disease. A rise in hemoglobin level indicates an increase in the number of red blood cells, which is the desired effect of the medication.