RN Medical/Surgical NGN HESI 2023 Related

Review RN Medical/Surgical NGN HESI 2023 related questions and content

The nurse is preparing to administer an antibiotic to a patient who has been receiving the antibiotic for 2 days after a culture was obtained. The nurse notes increased erythema and swelling, and the patient has a persistent high fever of 39°C. What is the nurse's next action?

  • A. Administer the antibiotic as ordered.
  • B. Contact the provider to request another culture.
  • C. Discuss the need to add a second antibiotic with the provider.
  • D. Review the sensitivity results from the patient's culture.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: In this scenario, the nurse is observing signs of a possible lack of response to the current antibiotic therapy, such as increased erythema, swelling, and persistent high fever. The next appropriate action for the nurse is to review the sensitivity results from the patient's culture. This step is crucial to determine if the current antibiotic is effective against the causative organism. If the sensitivity results indicate resistance to the current antibiotic, the antibiotic should be discontinued, and the provider should be notified for a change in therapy. Contacting the provider to request another culture is not the immediate priority, as the existing culture results need to be reviewed first. Adding a second antibiotic should only be considered after confirming the sensitivity results, as unnecessary antibiotic use can lead to antimicrobial resistance.