The nurse is administering a medication to a client as prescribed in o

The nurse is administering a medication to a client as prescribed in order to maintain a specific amount of the medication in the client’s bloodstream at all times. The nurse is ensuring that which action is being maintained for this client?

1. Peak plasma level
2. Drug half-life
3. Onset of action
4. Plateau

ANSWER

Correct Answer: 4
Rationale 1: Peak plasma level is the highest plasma level achieved by a single dose when the elimination rate of the drug equals the absorption rate.
Rationale 2: Drug half-life is the time required for the elimination process to reduce the concentration of the drug to one-half of what it was at initial administration.
Rationale 3: Onset of action is the time after administration when the body initially responds to the drug.
Rationale 4: Plateau is when a concentration of a drug is maintained in the client’s plasma through a series of scheduled doses.