A nurse is discussing antidepressants with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following clients should the nurse identify as being a candidate for antidepressant therapy?

Rationale:

A. Frequent swallowing: Frequent swallowing, especially of small amounts, can indicate that the child is swallowing blood from postoperative bleeding. This is a common early sign of hemorrhage following a tonsillectomy and requires immediate evaluation.

B. Increased drowsiness: Drowsiness can result from anesthesia, pain medication, or fatigue after surgery. While it should be monitored, it is not a specific indicator of postoperative hemorrhage in a child following tonsillectomy.

C. Elevated pain level: Pain is expected after tonsillectomy and does not necessarily signal bleeding. Sudden severe pain might warrant reassessment, but elevated pain alone is not a definitive sign of hemorrhage.

D. Diminished breath sounds: Diminished breath sounds are not typically associated with post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage. This finding may indicate a respiratory issue, but not specifically bleeding from the surgical site.

Rationale:

A. Administer the medication as prescribed: Administering amoxicillin to a client with a penicillin allergy can result in serious allergic reactions, including rash, hives, or anaphylaxis. Amoxicillin is a penicillin derivative, it is contraindicated in patients with penicillin allergies.

B. Discuss the prescription with the health care provider: The nurse must clarify potentially harmful prescriptions directly with the provider. This ensures patient safety by verifying if the medication should be changed, considering the client’s documented allergy to penicillin.

C. Call the pharmacist for clarification of the medication contraindications: While pharmacists can verify drug classes and potential reactions, they do not have the authority to discontinue or modify a prescription. Only the healthcare provider can make necessary changes to an order.

D. Place an incident report in the medical record: Incident reports are meant for internal documentation and are never placed in the client’s medical record. Since the error has not occurred yet, prevention through provider consultation is the priority action.