A nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving DSW with 20 mEq of KCL at 75 mL/hr. The provider has prescribed 1 g of ceftriaxone IV. When preparing to administer this medication by IV piggyback, which of the following data is the highest priority for the nurse to consider before administration?

B. Before administering any medication, especially antibiotics like amoxicillin, the nurse must assess the patient for allergies or previous adverse reactions to amoxicillin or other beta-lactam antibiotics. Allergic reactions can range from mild rashes to severe anaphylactic reactions, so it's essential to confirm the

patient's allergy status and assess for any signs or symptoms of allergic reaction before proceeding with administration.

A. Flushing the IV site with normal saline is typically not required specifically before administering IV amoxicillin unless it is part of the institution's standard practice to flush all IV lines before and after medication administration.

C. While monitoring intake and output (I&O) is important for assessing fluid balance and kidney function, it is not directly necessary before administering IV amoxicillin unless there are specific concerns related to the patient's fluid status or renal function. However, it is good practice to have a general understanding of the patient's recent fluid intake and output patterns.

D. Creatinine clearance is a measure of kidney function. Checking the latest creatinine clearance result is important for assessing renal function, especially before administering medications excreted by the kidneys. However, amoxicillin is primarily excreted by the kidneys in its unchanged form, so knowing the patient's renal function status can help in determining the appropriate dosage or adjusting the dosing interval if necessary.

Recapping needles increases the risk of needlestick injuries. Needles used for arterial blood gas (ABG) specimens should never be recapped because this action significantly increases the likelihood of accidental puncture wounds.

B. Recapping needles can lead to accidental needlesticks, so it's safer to avoid this practice. Instead, needles should be immediately disposed of in a puncture-proof sharps container.

CA Recapping needles is strongly discouraged because it increases the risk of needlestick injuries. Placing needles in a regular wastebasket does not provide adequate protection from needlestick injuries and is not in line with safe disposal practices.

D. Breaking needles is hazardous and increases the risk of needlestick injuries. Needles should never be manipulated or broken before disposal. They should be placed intact in a sharps disposal container to prevent accidental exposure.