A nurse from the labor and delivery unit is assigned to float to a medical-surgical unit. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

The correct answer is: d.

Choice A reason: An allergy to penicillin requiring an alternative antibiotic to be prescribed is a common and expected variation in care. Allergies are patient-specific factors that must be accommodated within the care pathway. The need for an alternative antibiotic does not typically constitute a variance that requires reporting, as adjustments for allergies are part of personalized care planning.

Choice B reason: Initiating antibiotic therapy 2 hours after implementation of the care pathway may not require a variance report if it falls within the acceptable time frame for antibiotic administration. The timing of antibiotic therapy can be critical, but slight deviations are often accounted for within the care pathway guidelines. However, if the care pathway specifies a narrower time frame for initiation, then this could be a reportable variance.

Choice C reason: Changing the route of antibiotic therapy from IV to PO (oral) is a clinical decision that may be based on the patient's condition, progress, and ability to tolerate oral medications. This switch is a part of antimicrobial stewardship and is often encouraged when clinically appropriate to reduce IV line use and potential complications. It is a standard practice and does not typically require a variance report unless the change contradicts a specific protocol in the care pathway.

Choice D reason: Obtaining a blood culture after the initiation of antibiotic therapy is a significant variance from the standard care pathway. Blood cultures should be obtained before starting antibiotics to accurately identify the causative organisms and their antibiotic sensitivities. Starting antibiotics before obtaining blood cultures can reduce the likelihood of growing the bacteria in the culture, potentially leading to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. This is a deviation from the standard of care that requires a variance report.

Choice A reason: This is the correct response by the nurse. The nurse should respect the client's right to privacy and confidentiality and not disclose any information about the client's treatment plan without the client's consent. The nurse should also inform the adult child that they can ask their mother for permission to access her medical records.

Choice B reason: This is not the correct response by the nurse. The nurse should not ask the adult child what they want to know about the client's treatment, as this implies that the nurse is willing to share the information without the client's consent. The nurse should only answer the questions that the client has authorized the nurse to answer.

Choice C reason: This is not the correct response by the nurse. The nurse should not tell the adult child to speak directly to their mother about her treatment, as this may put pressure on the client to reveal information that she may not want to share. The nurse should respect the client's autonomy and decision-making regarding her treatment plan.

Choice D reason: This is not the correct response by the nurse. The nurse should not ask the client's primary care provider to speak with the adult child, as this may violate the client's privacy and confidentiality. The nurse should only involve the primary care provider if the client has given consent or if there is a legal or ethical obligation to do so.