A nurse is assessing a client who reports feeling dizzy while getting out of bed. The nurse suspects orthostatic hypotension related to a medication the client is taking Which of the following medications should the nurse identify as likely causing this adverse effect?

The nurse should plan to take the following actions:

A.Verify the prescription: Before administering any medication, the nurse must verify the prescription to ensure accuracy, appropriateness, and that it matches the provider's order.

Regarding option B, administering the medication at 1000, 1400, 1800, and 2200 may not be appropriate. The prescription states that ampicillin should be administered every 6 hours. The nurse should administer the medication at equally spaced intervals throughout the day. If the medication is prescribed every 6 hours, the appropriate administration times would be 0600, 1200, 1800, and 2400. However, the question does not provide sufficient information to determine the exact administration times, so option B cannot be definitively selected.

C. Assess the client for an allergy to penicillin: Since ampicillin is a penicillin-class antibiotic, it is essential for the nurse to assess the client for any history of allergies to penicillin or other beta-lactam antibiotics. A penicillin allergy could lead to a severe allergic reaction, so it is crucial to identify any potential allergies before administering the medication.

D. Document giving the medications: After administering the ampicillin, the nurse should document the administration in the client's medical record, including the time, dose, route, and any relevant observations or assessments.

E. Obtain a sputum for culture and sensitivity: The client's new prescription for ampicillin may be related to an infection. To ensure appropriate and effective treatment, obtaining a sputum specimen for culture and sensitivity is necessary. This will help identify the specific bacteria causing the respiratory infection and determine which antibiotics will be most effective in treating it.

To calculate the rate at which the IV pump should deliver dopamine, we can follow these steps:

Step 1: Convert the weight of the client from pounds to kilograms.

220 lb ÷ 2.2 = 100 kg (rounded to the nearest whole number)

Step 2: Calculate the total dose of dopamine per minute.

5 mcg/kg/min × 100 kg = 500 mcg/min

Step 3: Convert the dose from micrograms (mcg) to milligrams (mg).

500 mcg/min ÷ 1000 = 0.5 mg/min

Step 4: Determine the infusion rate in milliliters per hour (mL/hr).

The total volume of the solution is 250 mL.

The total dose of dopamine is 400 mg.

So, the infusion rate is (0.5 mg/min ÷ 400 mg) × 250 mL = 0.3125 mL/min.

Step 5: Convert the infusion rate from mL/min to mL/hr.

0.3125 mL/min × 60 min/hr = 18.75 mL/hr (rounded to the nearest tenth).

Therefore, the nurse should set the IV pump to deliver 18.8 mL/hr (rounded to the nearest tenth).