A nursing student is preparing to give a medication that has a boxed warning. The student asks the nurse what this means. What will the nurse explain about boxed warnings?
A) They indicate that a drug should not be given except in life-threatening circumstances.
B) They provide detailed information about the adverse effects of the drug.
C) They alert prescribers to measures to mitigate potential harm from side effects.
D) They provide information about antidotes in the event that toxicity occurs.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Boxed warnings (also known as black box warnings) are used to alert providers to potential side effects and to ways to prevent or reduce harm from these side effects. A boxed warning is placed on any drug that, although useful, has serious side effects; this is a way to keep drugs on the market while protecting patients. Many of these drugs are used in situations that are not life threatening. The boxed warning provides a concise summary and not a detailed explanation of drug side effects. The boxed warning does not include antidotes to toxicity.

A Nursing Student Is Preparing to Give a Medication That