A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving long-term treatment with oral doses of prednisone. For which of the following adverse effects should the nurse monitor?

The nurse should plan to take the following actions:

A.Verify the prescription: Before administering any medication, the nurse must verify the prescription to ensure accuracy, appropriateness, and that it matches the provider's order.

Regarding option B, administering the medication at 1000, 1400, 1800, and 2200 may not be appropriate. The prescription states that ampicillin should be administered every 6 hours. The nurse should administer the medication at equally spaced intervals throughout the day. If the medication is prescribed every 6 hours, the appropriate administration times would be 0600, 1200, 1800, and 2400. However, the question does not provide sufficient information to determine the exact administration times, so option B cannot be definitively selected.

C. Assess the client for an allergy to penicillin: Since ampicillin is a penicillin-class antibiotic, it is essential for the nurse to assess the client for any history of allergies to penicillin or other beta-lactam antibiotics. A penicillin allergy could lead to a severe allergic reaction, so it is crucial to identify any potential allergies before administering the medication.

D. Document giving the medications: After administering the ampicillin, the nurse should document the administration in the client's medical record, including the time, dose, route, and any relevant observations or assessments.

E. Obtain a sputum for culture and sensitivity: The client's new prescription for ampicillin may be related to an infection. To ensure appropriate and effective treatment, obtaining a sputum specimen for culture and sensitivity is necessary. This will help identify the specific bacteria causing the respiratory infection and determine which antibiotics will be most effective in treating it.

Before administering the first dose of metformin, the nurse should evaluate the client's creatinine level. Metformin is primarily excreted by the kidneys, and its clearance from the body depends on the renal function. If the client has impaired kidney function, metformin can accumulate in the body and lead to potential adverse effects, particularly lactic acidosis.

Monitoring the creatinine level helps assess the client's kidney function and determines whether it is safe to administer metformin. If the creatinine level is elevated, indicating reduced kidney function, the nurse should consult with the healthcare provider to determine the appropriate dose adjustment or consider an alternative treatment option.

Let's go through the other options and explain why they are not the priority laboratory results to evaluate before administering metformin:

A. Potassium level: While monitoring potassium levels is important in some situations, it is not a primary concern before administering metformin. Metformin does not have a significant effect on potassium levels, and it is not a medication known for causing hypokalemia (low potassium levels).

C. Platelet count: Metformin does not have a direct impact on platelet count, and evaluating platelet count is not typically required before starting metformin therapy. Platelet count monitoring may be relevant for certain other medications or medical conditions, but it is not specific to metformin administration.

D. Liver enzymes: While it is essential to monitor liver function in clients on long-term metformin therapy, evaluating liver enzymes before the first dose of metformin is not the priority. Metformin is primarily cleared by the kidneys, and liver enzymes are not directly affected by its initial administration. However, ongoing monitoring of liver function may be necessary during long-term