A nurse is providing teaching for a client who has a prescription for gentamicin. Which of the following should the nurse include as an adverse effect of this medication?

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.

The client statement that indicates an understanding of the teaching is: "The medication can cause drowsiness."

Promethazine is an antihistamine medication commonly used to treat various conditions, such as allergies, motion sickness, and nausea. One of the most common side effects of promethazine is drowsiness or sedation. It has a significant sedative effect, and it is often used to induce sleep or manage insomnia in some cases.

Let's go through the other options:

A. "This medication can cause diarrhea": Diarrhea is not a common side effect of promethazine. While promethazine can cause certain gastrointestinal side effects like constipation or upset stomach, diarrhea is not typically associated with its use.

B. "The medication can cause increased salivation": Increased salivation is not a common side effect of promethazine. While some antihistamines can cause dry mouth, which is the opposite of increased salivation, promethazine does not usually cause excessive salivation.

C. "This medication can cause pupil constriction": Pupil constriction (miosis) is a potential side effect of some medications, but it is not commonly associated with promethazine. Promethazine is more likely to cause pupil dilation (mydriasis) rather than constriction.