The nurse is preparing to educate a patient who has just been prescribed a sulfonamide.
Which statements should be included in the teaching plan?

Choice A rationale:

A WBC count of 16,000/mm is higher than the normal range of 5,000 to 10,000 cells/mm. This indicates that the body is fighting an infection, which is a common reason for prescribing Vancomycin. Therefore, a high WBC count could indicate a therapeutic response to the medication as it suggests that the body’s immune system is actively fighting the infection.

Choice B rationale:

A BUN level of 42 mg/dl is higher than the normal range of 7 to 20 mg/dL3456. Elevated BUN levels can indicate kidney damage or disease, which is not a desired therapeutic response to Vancomycin. Vancomycin can be nephrotoxic, and its use requires careful monitoring of kidney function. Therefore, a high BUN level does not indicate a therapeutic response to the medication. Choice C rationale:

A blood pressure reading of 95/64 is considered normal. Maintaining normal blood pressure is important for overall health and can indicate that the patient’s body is responding well to the medication. Therefore, a blood pressure reading within the normal range could indicate a therapeutic response to Vancomycin.

Choice D rationale:

A body temperature of 101.8F is considered a fever14. Fever is a common response to infection and can indicate that the body is fighting off an infection, which is a common reason for prescribing Vancomycin. Therefore, a high body temperature could indicate a therapeutic response to the medication as it suggests that the body’s immune system is actively fighting the infection.

Choice A rationale:

Fluconazole Fluconazole is an antifungal medication used to treat and prevent fungal infections. It works by stopping the growth of certain types of fungus. However, it is not effective against bacterial infections such as anthrax.

Choice B rationale:

Tobramycin Tobramycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic used to treat various types of bacterial infections, particularly Gramnegative infections. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. However, it is not typically used to treat anthrax.

Choice C rationale:

Ciprofloxacin Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. This includes bone and joint infections, intra-abdominal infections, certain type of infectious diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, skin infections, typhoid fever, and urinary tract infections, among others. For the treatment of anthrax, ciprofloxacin is one of the antibiotics that could be used. It works by killing the anthrax or by stopping the anthrax from growing. When the anthrax can’t grow anymore, it dies.

Choice D rationale:

Vancomycin Vancomycin is an antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial infections. It is recommended intravenously as a treatment for complicated skin infections, bloodstream infections, endocarditis, bone and joint infections, and meningitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. However, it is not typically used to treat anthrax.