Nokea
A patient is scheduled for abdominal surgery and is ordered to receive kanamycin as part of the bowel preparation. The patient asks the nurse why he is getting this drug. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
- A. You have an infection now and will probably have one after surgery, so this will help control it.
- B. We need to lower the levels of ammonia in your bloodstream to prevent problems.
- C. The drug helps eliminate bacteria so that your GI tract is as clean as possible for surgery.
- D. This is to help prevent you from developing any blood clots during and after the surgery.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Kanamycin and neomycin are used before surgery to reduce intestinal bacteria. It is thought that this reduces the possibility of abdominal infection that may occur after surgery on the bowel. By destroying bacteria in the gut and washing it out with laxatives or enemas, the surgical area becomes as clean as possible before the operation. The drug is not used to control an infection preoperatively. It does help to reduce blood ammonia levels with hepatic coma, but this is not the reason for its use with this patient. The drug has no effect on preventing blood clots postoperatively.
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A patient is prescribed demeclocycline. The nurse would teach the patient to be alert for signs of which of the following?
- A. Photosensitivity
- B. Abdominal pain
- C. Cramping
- D. Blood dyscrasias
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Demeclocycline causes photosensitivity reactions. Abdominal pain and cramping are adverse reactions of macrolides. Blood dyscrasias are an adverse reaction of lincosamides.
A patient is ordered to receive neomycin as part of the treatment plan for hepatic coma. Which of the following would be most important for the nurse to assess before administering this drug? Select all that apply.
- A. Ability to swallow
- B. Level of consciousness
- C. Baseline vital signs
- D. Pulmonary function
Correct Answer: A, B
Rationale: During the early stages of hepatic coma, various changes in the level of consciousness may be seen. At times, the patient may appear lethargic and respond poorly to commands. Because of these changes in the level of consciousness, the patient may have difficulty swallowing, and a danger of aspiration is present. If the patient appears to have difficulty taking an oral drug, the nurse should withhold the drug and contact the primary health care provider. Baseline vital signs are important but are not the priority when the patient has hepatic coma. The drug does not affect the patient's respiratory function. There is no infection; therefore, there is no need for culture and sensitivity testing.
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is prescribed tetracycline. The nurse would be alert for an increased risk of toxicity if the client is taking which of the following? Select all that apply.
- A. Digoxin (Lanoxin)
- B. Phenytoin (Dilantin)
- C. Warfarin (Coumadin)
- D. None of the above
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Tetracyclines may increase the risk of toxicity in clients who take digoxin for heart disease and increase the risk of bleeding in clients who take warfarin.
A nursing instructor is preparing a class on various antibacterial drugs interfering with protein synthesis, with the discussion focusing on quinupristin/dalfopristin. Which of the following medications would the instructor include as interacting with quinupristin/dalfopristin, thus increasing the risk for toxicity? Select all that apply.
- A. Lorazepam (Ativan)
- B. Quinapril (Accupril)
- C. Ritonavir (Norvir)
- D. Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
Correct Answer: A, C, D
Rationale: When quinupristin/dalfopristin is prescribed, it may interact with the following drugs, increasing serum levels and thus the risk for toxicity: antiretrovirals, antineoplastic and immunosuppressant agents, calcium channel blockers, benzodiazepines, and cisapride.
A nurse is preparing to administer an aminoglycoside to a client. The nurse would be alert for the development of which of the following toxicities? Select all that apply.
- A. Nephrotoxicity
- B. Cardiotoxicity
- C. Ototoxicity
- D. Hepatotoxicity
Correct Answer: A, C, E
Rationale: More serious adverse reactions of aminoglycosides include nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, and neurotoxicity. A nurse recognizing these can greatly reduce permanent damage to the client's hearing, kidneys, and nerves. Aminoglycosides are not associated with cardiotoxicity or hepatotoxicity.