Immunosuppressant and chemotherapy drug classes with infection precautions and key nursing safety considerations.
About this set
33 basic cards for NCLEX-RN Nursing Pharmacology. Set 14 of 21 in Nursing Pharmacology. It opens with "What is the primary nursing concern with all immunosuppressant medications?" and "What lab value is used to assess a chemotherapy patient's risk of infection?". Study it alongside the other NCLEX-RN sets below.
33 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- What is the primary nursing concern with all immunosuppressant medications?
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Increased risk of infection due to suppressed immune response- What lab value is used to assess a chemotherapy patient's risk of infection?
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Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)- An ANC below what value indicates severe neutropenia?
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500 cells/mm3- What term describes the point at which blood cell counts reach their lowest level after chemotherapy?
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Nadir- About how many days after chemotherapy does the nadir typically occur?
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7 to 14 days- Name the two calcineurin inhibitor drugs commonly used to prevent transplant rejection.
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Cyclosporine and tacrolimus- What beverage must patients avoid while taking cyclosporine or tacrolimus?
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Grapefruit juice- What oral tissue side effect is commonly associated with cyclosporine?
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Gingival hyperplasia (overgrowth of the gums)- What major organ toxicity requires monitoring in patients taking calcineurin inhibitors like cyclosporine or tacrolimus?
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Nephrotoxicity (kidney damage)- What neurologic side effects can occur with tacrolimus?
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Tremors and headache- Why must mycophenolate mofetil never be used during pregnancy?
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It is teratogenic and causes fetal harm- What drug interaction increases toxicity risk when combined with azathioprine?
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Allopurinol- What lab test should be monitored regularly in a patient taking azathioprine?
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Complete blood count (CBC), due to risk of bone marrow suppression- What class of immunosuppressant is sirolimus?
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mTOR inhibitor- What adverse effect makes sirolimus a concern for patients with recent surgical wounds?
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It impairs wound healing
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