Final answer:
The administration of intravenous iron dextran for treating iron deficiency anemia involves safety measures and an understanding of diagnostic test interference. Ensuring epinephrine is available is crucial for potential hypersensitivity reactions. Reversing iron-deficiency anemia requires more than a single dose of iron dextran.
Step-by-step explanation:
When administering intravenous iron dextran for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia, several steps are involved to ensure patient safety and therapeutic effectiveness. The use of iron dextran can also have implications for diagnostic tests and overall anemia management. Below is a thorough explanation for each of the mentioned actions a nurse might take in relation to iron dextran administration:
- Checks the client's hemoglobin level the following day: While this may be done, it is not solely because of the iron dextran administration. Hemoglobin levels reflect overall oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and are not expected to rise significantly within one day of iron therapy.
- Realizes that use of this medication will produce a false-positive when checking stool for blood: Iron supplements can indeed cause a darkening of the stool, which may lead to false-positive results when testing for occult blood.
- Ensures that epinephrine is available: This is an important precaution because iron dextran can cause hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis. Having epinephrine available is a standard safety protocol in case of a severe allergic reaction.
- Informs the client that one dose will reverse iron-deficiency anemia: This statement is not accurate; reversing iron-deficiency anemia usually requires a course of treatment. The body needs time to utilize the iron and produce enough red blood cells to correct the anemia.
The ideal response in the context of this question is ensuring that epinephrine is available (option c) during the administration of iron dextran as a safety measure against potential severe allergic reactions.