Final answer:
The correct understanding of epoetin alfa (Epogen) therapy by a patient with chronic renal failure is that it will not completely eliminate the need for blood transfusions, as indicated by statement b.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse is teaching a patient who has chronic renal failure and will begin receiving epoetin alfa [Epogen] as part of their drug therapy. The correct understanding of this medication by the patient is indicated by statement b: "Taking this drug will not eliminate my need for blood transfusions." Epoetin alfa is a synthetic form of erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells, thereby addressing the anemia often associated with renal failure.
However while it can decrease the number of transfusions a patient needs it does not completely eliminate the potential need for them. On the other hand, statement a is incorrect because patients often continue epoetin alfa when they start dialysis to manage their anemia. Statement c is also incorrect since epoetin alfa does not prevent the need for dialysis but is used to treat the anemia associated with renal failure. Lastly statement d is incorrect because epoetin alfa does not increase serum ferritin levels; it stimulates the production of red blood cells. Ferritin is a marker of iron stores and is not directly affected by EPO.