Question

Which laboratory value should the nurse review prior to administering the initial dose of a statin medication?

a. Serum electrolytes.
b. Serum liver enzymes
c. Capillary blood glucose.
d. Complete blood count.

Answer 1

Prior to initiating statin therapy, a nurse should review serum liver enzymes to ensure proper liver function and establish a baseline, as statins can impact liver health and potentially cause liver injury.

Step-by-step explanation:

The laboratory value a nurse should review prior to administering the initial dose of a statin medication is b. Serum liver enzymes.

Statin medications are used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood and can have effects on liver function. It's important to check for normal liver enzyme levels, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), before starting therapy to establish a baseline and monitor for potential drug-induced liver injury.

Before prescribing statins, healthcare providers typically order a complete metabolic panel (CMP) or liver function tests (LFTs) to ensure the liver is functioning properly. Elevated liver enzyme levels might indicate pre-existing liver disease, which could be worsened by the introduction of statin therapy. Therefore, reviewing serum liver enzymes is crucial for patient safety and the effective management of lipid levels.