Questions: A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for acyclovir to treat a herpes simplex infection. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse monitor for this client? Prothrombin time Hematocrit BUN Aspartate aminotransferase

The answer is the third one: BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen).

Explanation for each option:

1. Prothrombin time: This test measures how long it takes blood to clot and is typically monitored when a patient is on anticoagulant therapy, such as warfarin. Acyclovir does not typically affect prothrombin time, so this is not the correct laboratory value to monitor.

2. Hematocrit: This measures the proportion of red blood cells in the blood and is used to diagnose anemia or polycythemia. Acyclovir does not usually affect hematocrit levels, so this is not the correct laboratory value to monitor.

3. BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen): Acyclovir can affect kidney function, and BUN is a measure of kidney function. Monitoring BUN levels can help assess if the drug is impacting the kidneys, making this the correct laboratory value to monitor.

4. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST): This enzyme is typically monitored to assess liver function. While some medications can affect liver enzymes, acyclovir is more commonly associated with renal (kidney) issues rather than liver issues, so this is not the primary laboratory value to monitor.

In summary, the nurse should monitor the client's BUN levels to assess kidney function while the client is on acyclovir.