Graded dose-response curves are most useful for determining

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Graded dose-response curves plot individual response intensity to dose increases (e.g., pain relief), a pharmacodynamic tool. Population curves (e.g., ED50) suit groups, not individuals. Large or small groups aggregate data, missing individual nuance. Individual focus defines graded curves, key for tailoring therapy.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Allopurinol should be taken with food to reduce gastrointestinal irritation. Limiting vitamin C intake is advised because it can increase uric acid levels, counteracting the drug's effects. A rash is not a normal side effect and may indicate a hypersensitivity reaction, requiring immediate medical attention. The therapeutic effects of allopurinol are not immediate and may take weeks to become apparent. Proper patient education is essential to ensure adherence and safety.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The statement "The intravenous potassium dose will be given undiluted" reflects a need for further teaching. Potassium should always be diluted before administration to reduce the risk of causing irritation or damage to the veins. Administration of concentrated potassium solution can lead to serious complications, including local tissue damage, phlebitis, and even cardiac arrest. It is essential to dilute intravenous potassium solutions to ensure safe administration and minimize the risk of adverse effects.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Amphetamine overdose causes sympathomimetic toxicity: elevated heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) from catecholamine release, mydriasis via alpha-adrenergic stimulation, and CNS excitation—aggressiveness, paranoia, and hallucinations—due to dopamine and norepinephrine excess. Ethanol overdose typically depresses CNS, causing sedation, not excitation, despite possible tachycardia. Fentanyl, an opioid, leads to respiratory depression and miosis, opposite to these symptoms. Flunitrazepam, a benzodiazepine, sedates and lowers BP. Marijuana might cause paranoia but not this full sympathomimetic profile. Amphetamine's stimulant properties directly explain the cardiovascular, pupillary, and psychiatric symptoms, making it the most likely culprit in this acute presentation.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Haloperidol, a conventional antipsychotic, treats schizophrenia by reducing positive symptoms like hallucinations, but its efficacy depends on adherence. The priority outcome is medication compliance, as relapse is common without consistent use, undermining all other goals. Adequate fluids and fiber mitigate side effects (e.g., constipation) but are secondary to ensuring treatment continuity. Decreased hallucinations is a desired effect, not an outcome ensuring it happens. Restlessness indicates side effects (e.g., akathisia), not a goal. Compliance is foundational, as schizophrenia's chronic nature requires long-term management, making choice B the nurse's primary focus for successful therapy.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Goat yogurt and other high-protein foods should be avoided when taking levodopa because protein can interfere with the absorption of the medication, reducing its effectiveness. Whole grain cereal, asparagus, and apples are not known to interact with levodopa. Therefore, goat yogurt is the food item to avoid.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Albuterol, a short-acting beta-agonist, relieves acute asthma symptoms by bronchodilation. Shaking the inhaler well ensures proper aerosolization of the dose, maximizing delivery to the lungs. Using it daily is incorrect'albuterol is PRN, not preventive like inhaled steroids. Holding breath for 2 seconds is too short; 10 seconds is standard to deposit medication. Daily soap-and-water cleaning risks damage'weekly rinsing suffices. Shaking aligns with albuterol's delivery mechanism, critical for efficacy in asthma exacerbations where rapid relief is needed. This instruction prevents misuse, ensuring the client gets the full therapeutic effect, especially in emergencies. Other options either misalign with its PRN use or exaggerate care needs, making B the essential teaching point for safe, effective administration.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: To help reduce tolerance to transdermal nitroglycerin therapy, it is often recommended to remove the patch at bedtime and then apply a new one in the morning. This drug-free period during sleep helps prevent the development of tolerance to nitroglycerin. By allowing the body to have a break from continuous exposure to the drug, the effectiveness of nitroglycerin can be maintained over time.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Nitroglycerin is a medication commonly used in the treatment of angina pectoris (chest pain) and heart failure. Its primary action is to dilate the coronary arteries, which are the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle with oxygen and nutrients. By dilating these arteries, nitroglycerin helps to increase blood flow to the heart and reduce the workload on the heart muscle, thereby relieving chest pain and improving overall heart function. This vasodilatory effect of nitroglycerin also helps in reducing blood pressure and increasing oxygen supply to the heart. Therefore, the correct action of nitroglycerin is to dilate the coronary arteries.