Before administering an antibiotic that can cause nephrotoxicity, which laboratory value is most important for the practical nurse (PN) to review?
White blood cell count (WBC).
Serum creatinine.
Hemoglobin and Hematocrit.
Serum calcium
The Correct Answer is B
The correct answer is choice B, Serum creatinine. Choice A rationale:
The white blood cell count (WBC) is an important parameter for assessing the body's immune response to infections. While it can provide valuable information about the presence of an infection, it is not directly related to nephrotoxicity. Therefore, it is not the most important laboratory value to review before administering an antibiotic that can cause nephrotoxicity.
Choice B rationale:

Serum creatinine is a crucial laboratory value to assess kidney function. It is a waste product that is filtered by the kidneys, and its level in the blood is a reliable indicator of kidney function. If the serum creatinine level is elevated, it suggests impaired kidney function, which can be a warning sign of nephrotoxicity. Reviewing the serum creatinine level before administering nephrotoxic antibiotics is essential to ensure that the client's kidneys are functioning adequately and to avoid potential harm.
Choice C rationale:
Hemoglobin and hematocrit are indicators of the client's red blood cell count and blood's oxygen-carrying capacity. While these values can provide information about the client's overall health status, they are not directly related to nephrotoxicity. Therefore, they are not the most important laboratory values to review in this particular scenario.
Choice D rationale:
Serum calcium levels are essential for assessing bone health, nerve function, and muscle contractions. However, they are not directly related to nephrotoxicity, and reviewing serum calcium levels alone would not provide sufficient information about kidney function. Hence, it is not the most critical value to review before administering nephrotoxic antibiotics
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["0.6"]
Explanation
Step 1: The medication is prescribed as 30 mg every 12 hours, which means it is given twice a day. So, the total daily dosage in mg is 30 mg × 2 = 60 mg.
Step 2: The medication is available in 30 mg per 0.3 mL. So, to find out how many mL correspond to 60 mg, we set up a proportion: (30 mg / 0.3 mL) = (60 mg / x mL). Solving for x gives x = (0.3 mL / 30 mg) × 60 mg = 0.6 mL.
Therefore, the practical nurse should administer 0.6 mL of the medication each day.
Correct Answer is ["40"]
Explanation
The client’s 0730 finger stick glucose is 271 mg/dL. According to the sliding scale parameters, the client should receive:
Step 1: Determine the amount of insulin aspart based on the sliding scale. Since the glucose level is 271 mg/dL, which falls in the range of 270 to 300 mg/dL, the client should receive 15 units of insulin aspart.
Step 2: Add the amount of NPH insulin to the amount of insulin aspart. The client has a prescription for NPH insulin 25 units before breakfast. So, the total amount of insulin this client should receive is 25 units (NPH insulin) + 15 units (insulin aspart) = 40 units.
So, the total amount of insulin this client should receive is40 units.
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