Question

The patient is receiving a statin drug. The nurse notes an increase in creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels. What is the nurse's priority action?

1. Hold the drug and obtain another creatine phosphokinase (CPK) level in 6 hours.
2. Administer the drug and continue to assess for muscle pain.
3. Administer the drug and obtain another creatine phosphokinase (CPK) level in 6 hours.
4. Hold the drug and notify the physician.

Answer 1

When a nurse notes an increase in CPK levels in a patient taking a statin, the priority action is to hold the medication and inform the physician for further assessment due to potential muscle damage.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a patient is receiving a statin drug and the nurse observes an increase in creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels, the nurse's priority action would be to hold the drug and notify the physician. An elevated CPK level can indicate muscle damage which could potentially be a serious side effect of statin therapy known as myopathy. Timely medical assessment is crucial in preventing further complications. Therefore, the correct response is to hold the drug and notify the physician.