Which ongoing assessment should the nurse perform for a patient prescribed ezetimibe?

Monitoring blood cholesterol levels is essential for patients prescribed ezetimibe because the medication primarily works by inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines, leading to a decrease in cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. This assessment helps determine the medication's effectiveness and whether any adjustments in therapy are needed. Evaluating these levels on a regular basis can assist in achieving target lipid profiles and ultimately guide further management of hyperlipidemia.

In contrast, while obtaining reports of fasting blood sugar levels, taking a dietary history, and inspecting for xanthomas are valuable components of a comprehensive patient assessment, they are not as directly relevant to evaluating the primary outcome of ezetimibe therapy. Blood sugar levels might be more pertinent for patients on other lipid-lowering agents that can impact glucose metabolism. A dietary history can support overall health and dietary adherence, but it does not provide immediate information on the drug's effectiveness. Likewise, xanthomas are associated with severe hyperlipidemia or genetic lipid disorders and are less common with the use of ezetimibe specifically. Thus, monitoring cholesterol levels is the most critical ongoing assessment in this scenario.