Chapter 93: Antiviral Agents II: Drugs for HIV Infection and Related Opportunistic Infections

Chapter 93: Antiviral Agents II: Drugs for HIV Infection and Related Opportunistic Infections

 

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

1. The nurse is caring for a patient who is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive and is taking high doses of zidovudine (Retrovir). The nurse is providing patient education about the adverse effects of the medication. Which statement by the patient demonstrates a need for further teaching?

a.	“I may experience fatigue from anemia.”
b.	“I may be more susceptible to infection from neutropenia.”
c.	“I may have a deficiency of vitamin B6.”
d.	“I may have a deficiency of folic acid.”

 

 

ANS:   C

A deficiency of vitamin B₁₂, not vitamin B₆, would be expected; this statement indicates that further teaching is required.

With high-dose zidovudine, the patient can expect anemia, neutropenia, and folic acid deficiency.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Analysis                  REF:    p. 1092

TOP:    Nursing Process: Assessment

MSC:   NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies

 

2. The nurse is caring for a patient who is HIV positive and is taking zidovudine (Retrovir). Before administering the medication, the nurse should monitor which laboratory values?

a.	Ketones in the urine and blood
b.	Serum immunoglobulin levels
c.	Serum lactate dehydrogenase
d.	Complete blood count (CBC)

 

 

ANS:   D

The nurse should monitor the patient’s CBC to determine whether the patient has anemia and neutropenia.

Ketones are not an adverse effect of zidovudine.

Nothing indicates a need to monitor the immunoglobulin levels or serum lactate dehydrogenase.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Application             REF:    p. 1091

TOP:    Nursing Process: Assessment

MSC:   NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies

 

3. The nurse is caring for a patient who is HIV positive and has a previous history of drug and alcohol abuse. The patient is being treated with combination therapies, including didanosine (Videx). Which laboratory findings would most concern the nurse?

a.	Increased serum amylase triglycerides and decreased serum calcium
b.	Decreased serum amylase and serum triglycerides and increased serum calcium
c.	Decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit
d.	Increased serum amylase, decreased triglycerides, and increased platelets

 

 

ANS:   A

The nurse should be concerned about increased serum amylase triglycerides and a decreased serum calcium, which are symptoms of pancreatitis, the major adverse effect of didanosine.

These other laboratory test results and assessment findings are not consistent with pancreatitis and are not a concern for the nurse.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Application             REF:    p. 1093

TOP:    Nursing Process: Assessment

MSC:   NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies

 

4. A patient taking stavudine (Zerit) telephones the clinic and reports numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. The nurse should advise the patient

a.	that the numbness is an expected side effect of the medication and will lessen.
b.	to discontinue the medication and come into the clinic for further evaluation.
c.	that the dose may be too high and to cut the tablet in half.
d.	to take the medication on a full stomach to reduce absorption of the drug.

 

 

ANS:   B

The patient has signs and symptoms of neuropathy. The patient should be advised to discontinue the medication and come in for further evaluation. The patient should be taught early in treatment to report these symptoms immediately.

Numbness is not an expected side effect and the patient should report these symptoms immediately.

The patient should never be advised to cut the dose in half unless instructed to do so by a prescriber.

Taking the medication on a full stomach will not affect the amount of medication absorbed.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Analysis                  REF:    p. 1094

TOP:    Nursing Process: Implementation

MSC:   NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies