After administering an antibiotic to the patient, the patient ...

[hubes95]

After administering an antibiotic to the patient, the patient complains of feeling very ill. The nurse notes that the patient is scratching and has hives. The patient soon starts having difficulty breathing and his blood pressure drops.
 
  What is the nurse's assessment of the situation?
  a.
  The patient is having a mild allergic reaction and an antihistamine will make the patient feel better.
  b.
  The patient is having an anaphylactic reaction and epinephrine should be administered right away.
  c.
  The patient's infection is worsening and progressing to septic shock so blood cultures should be drawn.
  d.
  The patient has developed toxic shock syndrome and the antibiotic orders must be changed right away.

Question 2

The nurse is caring for a patient who will give himself medication injections at home after discharge. How can the nurse best determine that the patient understands the technique and can administer the injections correctly?
 
  a. Provide written instructions about how to administer the injections.
  b. Watch the patient give himself an injection.
  c. Call the patient the next day to ask if he is having difficulty with the injections.
  d. Ask the patient if he understands how to administer the injections.

[marict]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
The patient's symptoms are indicative of anaphylaxis: a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. the airways close up, the throat swells closed, and the blood pressure drops dangerously low. The patient may go into shock and die. Patients may have very mild allergic reactions to medications and experience a rash or itching.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The nurse should watch the patient give himself an injection to make sure that he is doing it correctly. This will give the nurse an opportunity to point out and correct any mistakes and offer the patient reassurance about his technique.

[hubes95]

Gracias!

[bblaney]

TYSM