Nokea
A nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving penicillin. The nurse would assess for which of the following as a common adverse reaction?
- A. Inflammation of the tongue and mouth
- B. Impaired oral mucous membranes
- C. Severe hypotension
- D. Sudden loss of consciousness
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Some of the common adverse effects of penicillin are glossitis (inflammation of the tongue), stomatitis (inflammation of the mouth), and gastritis (inflammation of the stomach). Unless the adverse effects are severe, the drug may be continued as prescribed and the nurse would intervene to help the patient manage the common adverse reactions. Impaired oral mucous membranes would suggest a possible fungal superinfection in the oral cavity, whereas severe hypotension and sudden loss of consciousness are signs of anaphylactic shock; these are not common adverse effects of penicillin and require immediate medical attention.
You may also like to solve these questions
A patient is ordered to receive vancomycin IV. When administering the drug, the nurse would infuse the drug over which time frame?
- A. 15 minutes
- B. 30 minutes
- C. 45 minutes
- D. 60 minutes
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Each IV dose of vancomycin is infused over 60 minutes. Too rapid an infusion may result in a sudden and profound fall in blood pressure and shock.
The nurse administers cefuroxime to a patient at least 1 hour before meals, as prescribed. However, the patient experiences GI upset. Which of the following would be most appropriate for the nurse to do?
- A. Administer an antacid.
- B. Lower the dosage.
- C. Discontinue the drug.
- D. Administer the drug with food.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: If the patient experiences GI upset, the nurse can administer cefuroxime with food. A decrease in the dosage is suggested in a patient with renal impairment. A change in dosage, discontinuation of the drug, or use of an antacid is recommended only if prescribed by the physician.
A nurse is required to administer a parenteral form of penicillin to a patient. Which of the following interventions would be most appropriate for the nurse to do when preparing penicillin in parenteral form?
- A. Extract penicillin from vial and then reconstitute.
- B. Save excess antibiotic after reconstitution for later use.
- C. Use any available diluent for reconstitution.
- D. Shake the vial well to distribute the drug evenly.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: When preparing a parenteral form of penicillin, the nurse should shake the vial thoroughly before withdrawing the drug to ensure its even distribution in the solution. Penicillins in powder or crystalline form must be reconstituted before being withdrawn from the vial. Excess antibiotic after reconstitution should never be saved, as the drug loses its potency when stored. Reconstitution should be done only with the diluent prescribed on the manufacturer's label.
After taking penicillin as prescribed, a patient shows signs of diarrhea and informs the nurse that there is blood in his stools. Which of the following interventions should the nurse do next?
- A. Contact primary health provider immediately.
- B. Have the patient consume yogurt with his next meal.
- C. Decrease fiber content in diet.
- D. Continue with prescribed regimen.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: If diarrhea is suspected, the nurse should notify the primary health care provider immediately. The nurse should wait for the primary health care provider's instructions before continuing with the prescribed regimen. Yogurt or buttermilk may help prevent fungal superinfections, but they will not help alleviate the patient's condition at this stage. Changes in the diet are not recommended unless instructed by the primary health care provider.
While the nurse is obtaining a drug history from a patient, the patient tells the nurse that he is allergic to penicillins and has also experienced a rash when he took a cephalosporin. The nurse interprets this information as indicating which of the following?
- A. Hypersensitivity
- B. Cross-sensitivity
- C. Anaphylactoid reaction
- D. Anaphylaxis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Once an individual is allergic to one penicillin, he or she is usually allergic to all of the penicillins. Those allergic to penicillin also have a higher incidence of allergy to the cephalosporins. Allergy to drugs in the same or related groups is called cross-sensitivity. Hypersensitivity is an allergic reaction to one substance. Anaphylactoid reaction is an unusual or exaggerated allergic reaction. Anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock is a severe form of hypersensitivity that occurs immediately and can be fatal.