A male client has been receiving the antibiotic gentamicin sulfate IV piggyback every 12 hours for several days. Which observations by the nurse indicate that the client may be experiencing an adverse effect of gentamicin?
Hearing has decreased.
Decreased blood urea nitrogen.
White blood cells count 6,000/mm3 (6x109/L).
Reports of photophobia.
The Correct Answer is A
Gentamicin sulfate is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that can cause ototoxicity, which is damage to the inner ear leading to hearing loss or balance problems. Therefore, a decrease in hearing is an indication that the client may be experiencing an adverse effect of gentamicin.
Option b, decreased blood urea nitrogen, is not an adverse effect of gentamicin, but it may indicate improvement in kidney function, which can be a positive outcome of treatment.
Option c, a white blood cell count of 6,000/mm3 (6x109/L), is within the normal range and is not necessarily an adverse effect of gentamicin.
Option d, photophobia, is not a common adverse effect of gentamicin and may indicate a different condition or medication effect.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Nitrofurantoin is an antibiotic commonly used to treat urinary tract infections. One of the adverse effects of nitrofurantoin is diarrhea, which may be severe and watery. Therefore, it is important for the home care nurse to inform the client that the diarrhea may be a side effect of the medication and requires further evaluation. The nurse should instruct the client to stop taking the medication and contact their healthcare provider for further assessment and treatment. The nurse should also assess the client's fluid and electrolyte status and monitor for signs of dehydration.
Option a is important to consider, but it does not address the potential adverse effect of the medication.
Option c may be appropriate in some cases, but it is not the priority intervention at this time.
Option d is not necessarily true and may cause unnecessary alarm to the client.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that works by blocking the actions of aldosterone, a hormone that can lead to potassium loss in the urine. However, in some cases, spironolactone can cause hyperkalemia (high levels of potassium in the blood), which can be dangerous for patients with heart failure. Therefore, it is important to instruct the patient to limit their intake of high-potassium foods such as bananas, oranges, tomatoes, spinach, and salt substitutes containing potassium.
Option a (Replace salt with a salt substitute) is incorrect because salt substitutes often contain potassium, which can further increase the risk of hyperkalemia.
Option c (Cover your skin before going outside) is unrelated to the use of spironolactone and hyperkalemia.
Option d (Monitor skin for excessive bruising) is not directly related to the use of spironolactone and hyperkalemia, although it is a potential side effect of other medications used to treat heart failure.
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