The nurse checks the patient's laboratory work prior to administering a dose of vancomycin (Vancocin) and finds that the trough vancomycin level is 24 mcg/mL. What will the nurse do next?
a. Administer the vancomycin as ordered.
b. Hold the drug, and administer 4 hours later.
c. Hold the drug, and notify the prescriber.
d. Repeat the test to verify results.
Question 2
A patient is receiving aminoglycoside therapy and will be receiving a beta-lactam antibiotic as well. The patient asks why two antibiotics have been ordered. What is the nurse's best response?
a. The combined effect of both antibiotics is greater than each of them alone.
b. One antibiotic is not strong enough to fight the infection.
c. We have not yet isolated the bacteria, so the two antibiotics are given to cover a wide range of microorganisms.
d. We can give a reduced amount of each one if we give them together.
Dose–response relationship
Entry level nurse competencies
Patient education
All messages must be documented and placed in the patient's chart.
An example of an EHR screen used to order a laboratory test.
Areas of sclerosis (see arrows) in the white matter of a patient with MS.