During the evaluation phase of drug administration, the nurse completes what responsibilities?

• A. Administers the next dose as scheduled
• B. Documents the patient’s progress in the chart
• C. Monitors the patient for therapeutic and adverse effects
• D. Teaches the patient about dosing schedule

Answer: (C)

In the evaluation phase, the nurse determines how well the drug produced the desired effect and whether any adverse effects occurred. This means actively monitoring the patient for therapeutic responses and for toxic or unwanted reactions, then comparing what’s happening to the goals outlined in the care plan. If the response isn’t as expected or adverse effects arise, the plan is reviewed and may be adjusted in collaboration with the prescriber. Documentation and patient education are important parts of the overall process, but the core evaluation task is assessing the actual patient response to therapy and safety, not simply giving the next dose or providing teaching about dosing.