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A nurse is caring for a client who is taking cyclosporine (Sandimmune), a calcineurin inhibitor, to prevent kidney transplant rejection. Which assessment does the nurse perform as a priority before administering the medication? (Select all that apply.)¹
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune) is a calcineurin inhibitor used to prevent organ rejection after a kidney transplant. It works by suppressing the immune system to prevent the body from attacking the transplanted organ. Before administering the medication, the nurse should check the client's blood pressure because cyclosporine can cause hypertension¹. The nurse should also obtain serum drug levels periodically to verify that the medication is within the therapeutic range. This is important because cyclosporine has a narrow therapeutic index, meaning that there is a small difference between an effective dose and a toxic dose. Monitoring drug levels can help ensure that the client is receiving an effective dose while avoiding toxicity¹.
While it is important to monitor the client's peripheral pulses as part of routine care, it is not a priority assessment before administering cyclosporine.
Cyclosporine can affect electrolyte levels, including potassium, but it is not a priority assessment before administering the medication.
Monitoring the client's fluid balance is important, but it is not a priority assessment before administering cyclosporine.
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune) is a calcineurin inhibitor used to prevent organ rejection after a kidney transplant. It works by suppressing the immune system to prevent the body from attacking the transplanted organ. Before administering the medication, the nurse should check the client's blood pressure because cyclosporine can cause hypertension¹. The nurse should also obtain serum drug levels periodically to verify that the medication is within the therapeutic range. This is important because cyclosporine has a narrow therapeutic index, meaning that there is a small difference between an effective dose and a toxic dose. Monitoring drug levels can help ensure that the client is receiving an effective dose while avoiding toxicity¹.
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune) is a calcineurin inhibitor used to prevent organ rejection after a kidney transplant. It works by suppressing the immune system to prevent the body from attacking the transplanted organ. Before administering the medication, the nurse should check the client's blood pressure because cyclosporine can cause hypertension¹. The nurse should also obtain serum drug levels periodically to verify that the medication is within the therapeutic range. This is important because cyclosporine has a narrow therapeutic index, meaning that there is a small difference between an effective dose and a toxic dose. Monitoring drug levels can help ensure that the client is receiving an effective dose while avoiding toxicity¹.
The other options are not the best choices for the following reasons:
B. Checking the client's peripheral pulses: While it is important to monitor the client's peripheral pulses as part of routine care, it is not a priority assessment before administering cyclosporine.
C. Checking the most recent potassium level: Cyclosporine can affect electrolyte levels, including potassium, but it is not a priority assessment before administering the medication.
D. Checking the client's intake-and-output record for the last 24 hours: Monitoring the client's fluid balance is important, but it is not a priority assessment before administering cyclosporine.