A nurse is assessing a client who is taking hydrocodone. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Respiratory depression. Hydrocodone is an opioid medication that can cause respiratory depression, a serious side effect that should be reported immediately to the healthcare provider. Constipation, sedation, and dry mouth are common side effects of hydrocodone but are not as concerning as respiratory depression. Constipation can be managed with lifestyle modifications and medications, sedation may improve with time or dosage adjustments, and dry mouth is a common and usually benign side effect.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Choice B is correct because APRNs are trained to adopt a holistic approach, addressing physical, emotional, and social aspects of health, and often involve patients in care decisions, improving satisfaction and outcomes. Choice A is incorrect as it exaggerates pharmacology knowledge; APRNs study it extensively, but so do physicians, making superiority unproven. Choice C is wrong because APRNs' prescribing of narcotics varies by practice and isn't inherently less than others. Choice D is false since independent prescribing isn't universal—state laws differ, and some require oversight, similar to physician assistants.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Choice A is correct because a loading dose, like azithromycin's higher first-day dose, quickly elevates drug levels to the therapeutic range for faster effect. Choice B is incorrect as steady state, not loading, takes four to five half-lives; loading bypasses this delay. Choice C is wrong because renal function affects maintenance dosing, not the loading concept. Choice D is incorrect since circulation to tissues is a distribution issue, not the purpose of a loading dose.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Choice A is correct because bioavailability—the fraction of drug reaching systemic circulation—is critical for drugs with narrow therapeutic ranges (where small changes risk toxicity or inefficacy) and sustained-release forms (where release rate affects duration). Choice B is incorrect as bioavailability varies by formulation, not all brands are identical. Choice C is wrong because dosing frequency doesn't inherently increase bioavailability. Choice D is incorrect since inert substances can alter absorption, impacting bioavailability.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Choice B is correct because half-life is the time for a drug's concentration to decrease by 50%, a key pharmacokinetic parameter for dosing. Choice A is incorrect as steady state is when levels stabilize, not halve. Choice C is wrong because phase II metabolism is a process, not a time measure. Choice D is incorrect since ‘reduced bioavailability time' isn't a recognized term.