A nurse is unfamiliar with a medication they are preparing to administer to a client. Prior to administering the medication, the nurse should refer to which of the following resources?

• Calcium level: Decreased due to furosemide, a loop diuretic that increases calcium excretion in the urine, leading to mild hypocalcemia.
• Potassium level: Decreased due to furosemide, which causes potassium loss through diuresis. Lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor, can cause potassium retention, but in this case, the effect of furosemide dominates.
• Sodium level: Decreased due to furosemide-induced diuresis, which can lead to hyponatremia by excessive sodium loss.
• Edema: Improved due to furosemide, which promotes fluid removal and reduces volume overload associated with heart failure.
• Oxygen saturation: Improved due to carvedilol, which reduces heart failure symptoms by decreasing myocardial oxygen demand and improving cardiac output.
• Blood pressure: Lowered due to both carvedilol (a beta-blocker) and lisinopril (an ACE inhibitor), both of which reduce systemic vascular resistance.
• Weight: Decreased due to both carvedilol, which helps manage fluid retention over time in heart failure, and furosemide, which directly reduces fluid overload through diuresis.

A. Time. The prescription states that erythromycin should be administered four times per day, which is a standard frequency for this medication. No clarification is needed unless there are specific timing concerns, such as administration with or without food.
B. Medication. Erythromycin is a commonly prescribed macrolide antibiotic used for bacterial infections. Since the medication itself is clearly stated, there is no need to clarify this aspect of the prescription.
C. Route. The prescription does not specify the route of administration (e.g., oral, intravenous, or topical). Since erythromycin is available in multiple forms, including oral tablets, capsules, liquid suspension, and intravenous formulations, it is essential to clarify the intended route with the provider before administration.
D. Dosage. A dose of 500 mg four times per day is a typical dosage for erythromycin in treating infections. Unless there are concerns regarding the client’s renal or hepatic function or potential drug interactions, the dosage does not require clarification.