A client tells the nurse, “I took my sleeping pill yesterday evening, but it didn’t seem to work for me like it usually does.” The nurse should consider which variable that can affect drug absorption? Select all that apply.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: GI function. The absorption of drugs can be affected by the gastrointestinal (GI) function, including factors like gastric emptying time, pH of the stomach, and presence of food or other substances in the digestive tract. These factors can impact how quickly and effectively a drug is absorbed into the bloodstream. In this case, if the client's GI function is altered, it could explain why the sleeping pill did not work as expected. Summary of other choices: B: Blood flow to the site of administration - While blood flow can affect the distribution of a drug in the body, it does not directly impact drug absorption. C: The presence of other drugs - While interactions between drugs can affect drug efficacy, this primarily affects metabolism and excretion, not absorption. D: Route of administration - The route of administration affects how a drug is delivered to the body, but it does not directly impact drug absorption in this scenario.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: The lungs. Volatile drugs are typically eliminated through exhalation via the lungs due to their ability to evaporate easily into the air. This route is favored for volatile drugs as they can be quickly eliminated through respiration, making it an efficient and rapid process. A: The kidneys primarily excrete water-soluble compounds through urine, not volatile drugs. C: The bile and feces are involved in the excretion of non-volatile, lipophilic drugs, but not volatile drugs. D: The skin is not a primary route of excretion for drugs, especially volatile ones.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because a loading dose allows for a rapid achievement of drug levels in the therapeutic range on the first day. By administering a higher initial dose, the drug concentration quickly reaches the desired level. Choice B is incorrect because a loading dose does not necessarily require multiple half-lives to attain. Choice C is incorrect as renal function typically influences maintenance doses rather than loading doses. Choice D is incorrect because a loading dose is primarily focused on achieving therapeutic levels in the bloodstream, not specifically targeting tissues.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because when the peak level for a drug is above the minimum toxic concentration, it indicates that the concentration will produce an adverse response. This is because high drug levels can lead to toxicity and harmful effects on the body. The other choices are incorrect because: A: Concentration will produce therapeutic effects - This is incorrect because being above the minimum toxic concentration means the drug level is too high for therapeutic effects. C: Time between doses must be shortened - This is incorrect as adjusting the time between doses does not address the issue of drug toxicity. D: Duration of action of the drug is too long - This is incorrect because the duration of action does not directly relate to drug toxicity; it is the concentration level that determines toxicity.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Lipid solubility of the drug. This affects gastric drug absorption because lipid-soluble drugs can easily pass through the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane in the stomach. This allows for faster and more efficient absorption into the bloodstream. Liver enzyme activity (choice A) primarily affects drug metabolism, not absorption. Protein-binding properties (choice B) influence distribution within the body but not absorption. Ability to chew and swallow (choice D) relates to drug administration rather than absorption in the stomach.