Question

a nurse is caring for a client who is receiving filgrastim. which of the following findings should the nurse document to indicate the effectiveness of the therapy?

increased rbc count
increased neutrophil count
decreased prothrombin time
decreased triglycerides

Explanation:

Identify the drug class and therapeutic indication

Filgrastim is a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). It is primarily used to stimulate the bone marrow to produce neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, to prevent or treat neutropenia (low white blood cell count) in patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy.

Evaluate the physiological effect of the drug

Because filgrastim specifically targets the proliferation, differentiation, and activation of neutrophils, its primary therapeutic effect is to increase the absolute neutrophil count (ANC).

Analyze the given options

• Increased RBC count: Red blood cell production is stimulated by erythropoietin (epoetin alfa), not G-CSF.
• Increased neutrophil count: This directly reflects the therapeutic mechanism of filgrastim.
• Decreased prothrombin time: Prothrombin time is related to coagulation factors and warfarin therapy, which is unaffected by filgrastim.
• Decreased triglycerides: Triglyceride levels are managed by lipid-lowering agents, not colony-stimulating factors.

Determine the correct clinical finding

The nurse should document an increased neutrophil count to indicate that the filgrastim therapy is working effectively.

Answer:

• Increased RBC count
• Increased neutrophil count (Correct answer)
• Decreased prothrombin time
• Decreased triglycerides