A nurse is caring for a patient who has myasthenia gravis. The prescriber has ordered neostigmine [Prostigmin]. An important initial nursing action before administration of the medication includes assessing:

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Many patients hospitalized for myasthenia gravis do not have the muscle strength to swallow well and need a parenteral form of the medication; therefore, assessing the patient's ability to swallow is an important initial safety measure. Evaluating the patient's ability to raise the eyelids, level of fatigue, and skeletal muscle strength are important assessments before drug administration and during drug treatment, because they indicate the effectiveness of the drug and help determine subsequent doses.

A Nurse Is Caring for a Patient Who Has Myasthenia