A patient is taking a drug that has known toxic side effects. What will the nurse do?

Choice A reason: Drugs with toxic side effects, like chemotherapy agents, can affect multiple organs (e.g., liver, kidneys, heart). Monitoring organ function through lab tests (e.g., LFTs, creatinine) detects early toxicity, allowing timely intervention. Patient education on this ensures adherence and awareness, making this the most comprehensive and proactive approach. Choice B reason: Ordering complete blood counts is relevant for drugs affecting bone marrow (e.g., chemotherapy), but it’s too narrow. Toxic drugs may impact other organs like the liver or kidneys, requiring broader monitoring (e.g., LFTs, renal panels). Focusing solely on blood counts misses other potential toxicities, making this choice incomplete. Choice C reason: Discontinuing all medications is drastic and inappropriate without assessing the drug’s benefits versus risks. Many toxic drugs (e.g., methotrexate) are essential for treatment. Monitoring and managing side effects are preferred to maintain therapy efficacy while minimizing harm, making this choice clinically unsound. Choice D reason: Waiting for symptoms before follow-up risks missing subclinical toxicity, as many drug-induced organ damages (e.g., hepatotoxicity) are asymptomatic initially. Proactive monitoring of organ function through lab tests is essential to detect issues early, making this reactive approach inadequate for managing drugs with known toxic effects.