A nurse cares for a patient who developed severe varicella-zoster ...

[K@]

A nurse cares for a patient who developed severe varicella-zoster virus in the setting of postrenal transplant immunosuppression. This patient should receive:
 
  1. topical acyclovir therapy.
  2. oral acyclovir only.
  3. topical as well as oral acyclovir.
  4. intravenous acyclovir.

Question 2

The nurse is caring for a 36-year-old female who has the flu. Prior to administration of amantadine (Symmetrel) to treat the influenza, the nurse should make sure that the
 
  a. patient's symptoms have been present for longer than 48 hours.
  b. patient is not allergic to eggs.
  c. patient is not pregnant.
  d. patient does not have a history of Guillain-Barr syndrome.

[hramirez205]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 4

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
The nurse should make sure that the patient is not pregnant, because amantadine is teratogenic.
Symptoms need not have been present for longer than 48 hours.
There is no need to screen the patient for an allergy to eggs or a history of Guillain-Barr syndrome, because amantadine is not a vaccination, but rather a treatment.

[K@]

Excellent

[gcook]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it