_____________ is the period of time required for concentration of a drug to be reduced by 50%.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Half-life is the period of time required for the concentration of a drug in the body to be reduced by 50%. It is an important pharmacokinetic parameter that helps determine dosing intervals and drug accumulation or clearance. Understanding a drug's half-life is crucial in optimizing dosing regimens and achieving desired therapeutic outcomes. Efficacy refers to the maximum therapeutic effect that a drug can produce. Steady-state concentration is the consistent level of drug concentration achieved after repeated doses. Clearance is the rate at which a drug is removed from the body.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone, treats UTIs but causes photosensitivity, risking severe sunburn. Avoiding sun exposure prevents this, a key instruction for safety. Milk reduces absorption via calcium binding, lowering efficacy. Taking it PRN risks incomplete treatment and resistance. Doubling doses courts toxicity. Sun avoidance aligns with ciprofloxacin's side effect profile, critical for outpatient adherence where sun exposure is common. This teaching prevents avoidable harm, distinguishing it from administration errors, making B the essential instruction.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: When a client receives total parenteral nutrition (TPN), monitoring blood glucose levels is critical due to the high glucose content in TPN solutions, which can lead to hyperglycemia. This condition arises because TPN delivers concentrated nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system, and the body may struggle to regulate sugar levels effectively without proper insulin response. Potassium levels, while important in overall electrolyte balance, are less immediately impacted by TPN compared to glucose, as potassium imbalances typically develop over time rather than acutely from TPN initiation. Mental status assessments are valuable for neurological conditions but lack direct relevance to TPN's metabolic effects. Similarly, blood pressure monitoring is essential for cardiovascular health but isn't the primary concern with TPN, as it doesn't directly influence hypertension or hypotension in the same way glucose dysregulation does. The focus on glucose stems from its rapid impact on the client's metabolic state, making it the priority assessment to prevent complications like hyperglycemia, which can escalate to severe outcomes if unaddressed. Regular monitoring ensures timely intervention, aligning with TPN's nutritional goals.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Respiratory alkalosis occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) is excessively exhaled, raising blood pH. Hyperventilation is a primary cause, as rapid breathing reduces CO2, a respiratory acid, leading to alkalosis—common in anxiety, fever, or hypoxia. Hypotension or hypertension affects circulation, not ventilation rate directly, and aren't causes. Hypoventilation retains CO2, causing acidosis, not alkalosis. The nurse identifies hyperventilation as the physiological trigger, aligning with acid-base balance principles, making choice D the accurate cause in this context.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Adverse effects of propranolol that the nurse would assess for include allergic reaction, bradycardia, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, cerebrovascular accident, pulmonary edema, gastric pain, flatulence, impotence, decreased exercise tolerance, and bronchospasm. The nurse should monitor for these adverse effects and intervene as needed to ensure patient safety.