The client with Clostridium difficile in the stool receives a prescription for vancomycin PO. Which action should the nurse take before administering the first dose?
Auscultate bowel sounds.
Measure oxygen saturation.
Check serum creatinine.
Assess body temperature.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
Auscultating bowel sounds is important for assessing gastrointestinal function, but it is not directly related to the administration of vancomycin for Clostridium difficile infection.
Choice B rationale
Measuring oxygen saturation is important for assessing respiratory function, but it is not directly related to the administration of vancomycin for Clostridium difficile infection.
Choice C rationale
Checking serum creatinine is crucial before administering vancomycin because this medication can be nephrotoxic. Monitoring kidney function helps prevent potential renal damage.
Choice D rationale
Assessing body temperature is important for monitoring infection, but it is not directly related to the administration of vancomycin for Clostridium difficile infection.
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View Related questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
An increase in B-lymphocytes and IgM is not how HIV suppresses the immune system. B-lymphocytes are responsible for producing antibodies, and IgM is a type of antibody. HIV primarily affects T-lymphocytes, specifically helper T-cells (CD4 cells), rather than B-lymphocytes.
Choice B rationale
The destruction of helper T-cells and CD4 cells is the primary mechanism by which HIV suppresses the immune system. HIV targets and infects these cells, leading to their depletion. Helper T-cells play a crucial role in coordinating the immune response, and their loss results in a weakened immune system, making the body more susceptible to infections and diseases.
Choice C rationale
A deficiency of cytotoxic T cells is not the primary mechanism by which HIV suppresses the immune system. Cytotoxic T cells (CD8 cells) are involved in directly killing infected cells, but the main impact of HIV is on helper T-cells (CD4 cells), which are essential for orchestrating the immune response.
Choice D rationale
The proliferation of suppressor T-cells is not how HIV suppresses the immune system. Suppressor T-cells (regulatory T cells) help regulate and control the immune response, but HIV primarily affects helper T-cells (CD4 cells), leading to their destruction and a weakened immune system.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Lactulose is a synthetic sugar used to treat hepatic encephalopathy by reducing the absorption of ammonia in the intestines. Ammonia is a neurotoxin that can impair mental status in patients with liver dysfunction. By decreasing ammonia levels, lactulose helps improve cognitive function and mental status in patients with hepatic encephalopathy.
Choice B rationale
While lactulose can cause diarrhea as a side effect, the therapeutic goal in hepatic encephalopathy is not to reduce the number of liquid stools but to lower ammonia levels in the blood. The reduction in ammonia levels leads to improved mental status, not necessarily a reduction in liquid stools.
Choice C rationale
The ability to ambulate independently is not a direct therapeutic response to lactulose. The primary goal of lactulose therapy in hepatic encephalopathy is to improve mental status by reducing ammonia levels, not to enhance physical mobility.
Choice D rationale
Lactulose does not have a direct effect on urine output. Its primary mechanism of action is to reduce ammonia absorption in the intestines, thereby improving mental status in patients with hepatic encephalopathy.