Module 2 Ch. 74
A patient has a Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection that is sensitive to aminoglycosides, & the prescriber orders gentamicin. The patient tells the nurse that a friend received amikacin [Amikin] for a similar infection & wonders why amikacin was not ordered. What will the nurse tell the patient?
"Amikacin is given when infectious agents are resistant to other aminoglycosides."
A nurse is explaining to nursing students why a cephalosporin is used in conjunction with an aminoglycoside for a patient with an infection. Which statement by a student indicates understanding of the teaching?
"Cephalosporins enhance the actions of aminoglycosides by weakening bacterial cell walls."
A patient is receiving gentamicin once daily. A nursing student asks the nurse how the drug can be effective if given only once a day. The nurse explains drug dosing schedules for aminoglycosides. Which statement by the student indicates a need for further teaching?
"Gentamicin has a longer half-life than other aminoglycosides."
A patient is diagnosed with a lung infection caused by P. aeruginosa. The culture & sensitivity report shows sensitivity to all aminoglycosides. The nurse knows that the rate of resistance to gentamicin is common in this hospital. The nurse will expect the provider to order which medication?
Amikacin [Amikin]
A patient who is taking gentamicin & a cephalosporin for a postoperative infection requests medication for mild postsurgical pain. The nurse will expect to administer which of the following medications?
Acetaminophen
A patient is diagnosed with an infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus, & the prescriber orders intravenous gentamicin & penicillin. Both drugs will be given twice daily. What will the nurse do?
Administer gentamicin, flush the line, & then give the penicillin.
A patient shows signs & symptoms of conjunctivitis. Which aminoglycoside would the nurse expect to be ordered?
Neomycin [Neomycin]
A patient is admitted to the unit for treatment for an infection. The patient receives IV amikacin [Amikin] twice a day. When planning for obtaining a peak aminoglycoside level, when should the nurse see that the blood is drawn?
30 minutes after the IV infusion is complete
A patient is receiving tobramycin three times daily. The provider has ordered a trough level with the 8:00 AM dose. The nurse will ensure that the level is drawn at what time?
7:45 AM
A patient is receiving an intraperitoneal aminoglycoside during surgery. To reverse a serious side effect of this drug, the nurse may expect to administer which agent?
Calcium Gluconate
A patient who has been receiving intravenous gentamicin for several days' reports having had a headache for 2 days. The nurse will request an order to:
Discontinue the gentamicin.
A patient is receiving tobramycin three times daily. A tobramycin peak level is 4.5 & the trough is 1.2. What will the nurse do?
Give the next dose as ordered.
A patient who takes the loop diuretic ethacrynic acid is given intravenous gentamicin for an infection. After several days of treatment with gentamicin, the nurse reviews the patient's most recent laboratory results & notes a gentamicin trough of 2.1 μg/mL & normal blood urea nitrogen (BUN) & serum creatinine levels. The nurse will question the patient about:
Headache, dizziness, or vertigo.
A nurse is preparing to administer a dose of gentamicin to a patient who is receiving the drug three times daily. The nurse will monitor levels.
Peak & trough
A nurse preparing to administer intravenous gentamicin to a patient note that the dose is half the usual dose for an adult. The nurse suspects that this is because this patient has a history of:
Renal Disease.
A nurse is reviewing the culture results of a patient receiving an aminoglycoside. The report reveals an anaerobic organism as the cause of infection. What will the nurse do?
Request an order for a different class of antibiotic.
A patient who has been taking gentamicin for 5 days reports a headache & dizziness. What will the nurse do?
Suspect ototoxicity & notify the prescriber.
