Prior to administering medications, the student nurse reviews the therapeutic index. Which statement best describes the student's understanding of therapeutic index?
1) The therapeutic index measures the effectiveness of a medication in treating a specific condition.
2) The therapeutic index measures the safety of a medication by comparing the dose that produces therapeutic effects to the dose that produces toxic effects.
3) The therapeutic index measures the cost-effectiveness of a medication in comparison to alternative treatments.
4) The therapeutic index measures the bioavailability of a medication in the body.
