NURS 3100 Exam 1 Practice

A nurse is caring for a client who has a history of renal insufficiency and is taking lithium. The nurse should monitor the client for which of the following?

1. Dependence on the drug

2. Drug interaction

3. Drug toxicity

4. Tolerance to the drug

The correct answer is: Dependence on the drug

Lithium is primarily excreted by the kidneys, so individuals with renal insufficiency are at an increased risk of lithium toxicity due to decreased clearance of the drug from the body. Therefore, in a client with a history of renal insufficiency who is taking lithium, the nurse should monitor the client for dependence on the drug. Dependence indicates that the client may require adjustments in their lithium dosage or frequency to prevent toxicity. Monitoring for drug dependence is crucial in this situation to ensure the client's safety. Option B, drug interaction, may not be the priority in this scenario as the primary concern is the potential for lithium toxicity in a client with renal insufficiency. Option C, drug toxicity, is related to lithium use in this case, but the question specifically asks about monitoring, not the potential side effects of the drug. Option D, tolerance to the drug, is not typically a concern with lithium use and renal insufficiency.