Question

a nurse is caring for a client who has kidney failure and has been taking epoetin. which of the following is a therapeutic effect of this medication?

• decreased bun
• increased hgb
• decreased leukocyte production
• increased platelet production

Explanation:

Epoetin (erythropoietin - like medication) stimulates red blood cell production. Hemoglobin (Hgb) is a component of red blood cells. For a client with kidney failure, epoetin is used to increase red blood cell count, which increases Hgb. Decreased BUN is not a direct effect of epoetin (BUN relates to kidney function/urea, not erythropoiesis). Epoetin doesn't affect leukocyte (white blood cell) or platelet production directly (leukocytes relate to immune, platelets to clotting; epoetin targets erythropoiesis).

Answer:

B. Increased Hgb