The newly licensed nurse tells the supervisor, I thought that interferons were medications, but I ...

Correct Answer: 1,2,4
Rationale 1: Interferons are proteins produced in the body.
Rationale 2: Interferons have been isolated and are now available as medications for the treatment of immune disorders, viral infections, and cancer.
Rationale 3: The health care provider may well have told the client that interferon production was depressed.
Rationale 4: Interferons stimulate the activity of phagocytes and NK cells.
Rationale 5: Natural killer cells are stimulated by interferons.
Global Rationale: Interferons (IFNs) are antimicrobial proteins that are crucial components of the innate body defense system. Released by infected macrophages and lymphocytes, IFNs protect uninfected cells from the pathogen. IFNs have been isolated and are now available as medications for the treatment of immune disorders, viral infections, and cancer. Interferons do not help stimulate other cells. There is no reason to believe the patient misunderstood the physician.