NURS 3100 Exam 1 Practice

A nurse is caring for a client who experienced anaphylaxis after receiving a drug. What does anaphylaxis represent in this context?

1. Adverse effect

2. Paradoxical effect

3. Therapeutic effect

4. Toxicity

The correct answer is: Adverse effect

In this context, anaphylaxis represents an adverse effect of the drug received by the client. An adverse effect is an unintended and harmful reaction that occurs with normal drug doses. Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur shortly after exposure to an allergen, in this case, it was triggered by the drug administered. Paradoxical effects are opposite to the intended therapeutic effect of a drug, therapeutic effects are the beneficial effects of a drug when given at therapeutic doses, and toxicity occurs when the dosage of a drug is too high and causes harm to the client.