NURS 3100 Exam 1 Practice

A client is receiving lithium and asks the nurse why their blood has to be drawn so often. What is the best response by the nurse?

1. to be sure the medication is working properly

2. to be sure you have the correct amount of medication in your system

3. to detect side effects before they become a problem

4. to determine if your body is responding as it should

The correct answer is: to be sure the medication is working properly

The correct answer is A, to be sure the medication is working properly. Monitoring lithium levels through frequent blood tests is essential because lithium has a narrow therapeutic range; its levels can quickly become too high or too low, leading to toxicity or ineffectiveness of the medication. By checking blood levels regularly, healthcare providers can make adjustments to the dosage to ensure that the client is receiving the correct amount of medication for it to be effective without causing harm. Option B is not as accurate because the primary goal of monitoring lithium levels is not just to ensure the correct amount of medication in the system but to check for overall therapeutic effectiveness and safety. Option C is not the best answer because detecting side effects is important, but the primary purpose of these frequent blood tests in the context of lithium therapy is to monitor therapeutic levels. Option D is not the best answer because the focus is on the medication's efficacy and safety, not only on the client's response to the treatment.