This topic contains a solution. Click here to go to the answer

Author Question: A patient has been receiving intravenous penicillin for pneumonia for several days and begins to ... (Read 87 times)

future617RT

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 543
A patient has been receiving intravenous penicillin for pneumonia for several days and begins to complain of generalized itching. The nurse auscultates bilateral wheezing and notes a temperature of 38.5 C (101 F).
 
  Which is the correct action by the nurse?
  a. Administer the next dose and continue to evaluate the patient's symptoms.
  b. Ask the prescriber if an antihistamine can be given to relieve the itching.
  c. Contact the prescriber to request an order for a chest radiograph.
  d. Hold the next dose and notify the prescriber of the symptoms.

Question 2

A nurse consults a drug manual before giving a medication to an 80-year-old patient. The manual states that elderly patients are at increased risk for hepatic side effects. Which action by the nurse is correct?
 
  a. Contact the provider to discuss an order for pretreatment laboratory work.
  b. Ensure that the drug is given in the correct dose at the correct time to minimize the risk of adverse effects.
  c. Notify the provider that this drug is contraindicated for this patient.
  d. Request an order to give the medication intravenously so that the drug does not pass through the liver.



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
Marked as best answer by a Subject Expert

gstein359

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 293
Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
Pruritus and wheezing are signs of a possible allergic reaction, which can be fatal; therefore, the medication should not be given and the prescriber should be notified. When patients are having a potentially serious reaction to a medication, the nurse should not continue giving the medication. Antihistamines may help the symptoms of an allergic reaction, but the first priority is to stop the medication. Obtaining a chest radiograph is not helpful.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
The drug manual indicates that this drug should be given with caution to elderly patients. Getting information about liver function before giving the drug establishes baseline data that can be compared with post-treatment data to determine whether the drug is affecting the liver. Giving the correct dose at the correct interval helps to minimize risk, but without baseline information, the effects cannot be determined. The drug is not contraindicated.





 

Did you know?

Hyperthyroidism leads to an increased rate of metabolism and affects about 1% of women but only 0.1% of men. For most people, this increased metabolic rate causes the thyroid gland to become enlarged (known as a goiter).

Did you know?

Asthma occurs in one in 11 children and in one in 12 adults. African Americans and Latinos have a higher risk for developing asthma than other groups.

Did you know?

About 3.2 billion people, nearly half the world population, are at risk for malaria. In 2015, there are about 214 million malaria cases and an estimated 438,000 malaria deaths.

Did you know?

Critical care patients are twice as likely to receive the wrong medication. Of these errors, 20% are life-threatening, and 42% require additional life-sustaining treatments.

Did you know?

Essential fatty acids have been shown to be effective against ulcers, asthma, dental cavities, and skin disorders such as acne.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library