A nurse is educating a client who has been prescribed a 10-day course of antibiotics for a bacterial infection. The nurse emphasizes the importance of completing the full course and informs the client about the signs and symptoms of a superinfection. Which statement by the client indicates a correct understanding of the nurse's teaching?

A) "If I develop new symptoms like severe diarrhea, I should ignore them and finish the antibiotics."
New symptoms like severe diarrhea, especially if it is watery or bloody, can be a sign of a superinfection, such as Clostridium difficile (C. diff), which is associated with antibiotic use. It is essential for the client to report these symptoms to their healthcare provider immediately. Ignoring such symptoms can lead to serious complications.

B) "I need to finish all my antibiotics and report any unusual symptoms like a white coating on my tongue to my doctor."
Completing the full course of antibiotics is crucial to fully eradicate the infection and prevent the development of antibiotic resistance. The white coating on the tongue could indicate a fungal superinfection, such as oral thrush, which requires medical attention. This statement demonstrates an understanding of the importance of finishing antibiotics and recognizing potential side effects or superinfections.

C) "It is okay to share my antibiotics with family members if they have similar symptoms to mine."
Antibiotics should never be shared with others, even if they have similar symptoms. The antibiotics prescribed to a client are tailored to treat their specific infection, and taking the wrong antibiotic can lead to ineffective treatment, drug resistance, or adverse reactions. Sharing medication is dangerous and illegal.

D) "I should stop taking the antibiotics as soon as I feel better to avoid any side effects."
It is important to complete the full course of antibiotics as prescribed, even if the client starts feeling better before the course is finished. Stopping antibiotics prematurely can result in the infection not being fully treated, leading to a relapse or the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Given:

Ordered dose of phenobarbital: 6 mg/kg/day divided equally every 12 hours

Patient weight: 44 lbs

Concentration of phenobarbital elixir: 20 mg/5 mL

Step 1: Convert patient weight from pounds to kilograms:

1 pound (lb) = 0.453592 kilograms (kg)

Patient weight in kg = 44 lbs x 0.453592 kg/lb = 19.958 kg

Step 2: Calculate the total daily dose of phenobarbital:

Total daily dose (mg) = Ordered dose (mg/kg/day) x Patient weight (kg)

Total daily dose (mg) = 6 mg/kg/day x 19.958 kg

Total daily dose (mg) = 119.748 mg/day

Step 3: Calculate the dose per administration:

Dose per administration (mg) = Total daily dose (mg) / Number of administrations per day

Dose per administration (mg) = 119.748 mg/day / 2 administrations/day

Dose per administration (mg) = 59.874 mg

Step 4: Calculate the volume to be administered per dose:

Volume (mL) = Dose per administration (mg) / Concentration (mg/mL)

Volume (mL) = 59.874 mg / (20 mg/5 mL)

Volume (mL) = 59.874 mg x (5 mL / 20 mg)

Volume (mL) = 14.9685 mL

Step 5: Round to the nearest whole number:

Volume (mL) ≈ 15 mL