The nurse is assessing the adolescent 4 hr following fasciotomy. Highlight the findings below that indicate the adolescent's condition is improving.

Admission Assessment

1400:

Adolescent brought to emergency department by parents following a fall while skateboarding. Adolescent reports pain in their right leg as 10 on a scale of 0 to 10 and is unable to bear weight.

Adolescent is awake, alert, and oriented x 3. Lungs clear, respirations even and regular. S1 and S2 with regular rate and rhythm. Abdomen soft and nontender with active bowel sounds in all four quadrants. Right lower extremity with open wound and displaced bone. Right lower extremity pulse +1, extremity cool to touch, edema present, capillary refill 4 seconds.

Nurses' Notes 2300:

Adolescent is drowsy and reports nausea. Respirations shallow. Lungs clear. Unproductive cough present. S1 and S2 with regular rate and rhythm. Abdomen soft and nontender with hypoactive bowel sounds in all four quadrants. Right lower extremity fasciotomy, dressing clean, dry, and intact. Extremity pulse +3. Capillary refill 2 seconds. Right extremity is warm to the touch. Adolescent reports no numbness or tingling. Adolescent reports pain as 2 on a scale of 0 to 10.

An antibiotic that can cause nephrotoxicity is an antibiotic that can damage the kidneys, which are the organs that filter the blood and remove waste products and excess fluid from the body. Some examples of nephrotoxic antibiotics are aminoglycosides, vancomycin, amphotericin B, and sulfonamides.

Serum creatinine is a laboratory value that measures the amount of creatinine in the blood. Creatinine is a waste product that is produced by the breakdown of muscle tissue and is normally excreted by the kidneys. A high serum creatinine level indicates that the kidneys are not functioning properly and are unable to filter out the creatinine from the blood.

Before administering an antibiotic that can cause nephrotoxicity, it is important for the practical nurse (PN) to review the serum creatinine level of the client, as it reflects the kidney function and the risk of nephrotoxicity. A normal serum creatinine level ranges from 0.6 to 1.2 mg/dL for men and 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL for women. If the serum creatinine level is elevated, it may indicate that the client has impaired kidney function or is developing nephrotoxicity from the antibiotic. In this case, the PN should notify the primary healthcare provider and monitor the client for signs and symptoms of nephrotoxicity, such as decreased urine output, edema, hypertension, or electrolyte imbalances .

A. This is not a correct procedure for client identification, but rather for blood compatibility. The nurse should check the client's blood type and crossmatch it against the blood product label, not the provider's orders.
B. This is not a reliable method of client identification, as the client may not know or remember their blood type correctly. The nurse should use two identifiers, such as name and date of birth, to confirm the client's identity.
C. This is not a relevant step for client identification, but rather for informed consent. The nurse should ensure that the client has signed an informed consent form before administering blood, but this does not verify that the blood product matches the client.
D. This is the correct procedure for client identification, as it involves two licensed nurses who independently check and confirm the client's identity and the blood product information, such as blood type, Rh factor, expiration date, and serial number.