A nurse is preparing to administer vancomycin 500 mg PO daily divided into four equal doses. The amount available is vancomycin 125 mg capsules. How many capsules should the nurse administerwitheachdose?

A. Increasing fluids to maintain BP: While staying well-hydrated is generally beneficial for overall health and blood pressure management, increasing fluids is not the primary intervention for dizziness associated with alpha-adrenergic blockers. Alpha-blockers can cause orthostatic hypotension, which may lead to dizziness upon standing, especially if rising quickly.

B. Taking medication first thing in the morning: Taking medication in the morning is a common recommendation for many medications, including some antihypertensive drugs. However, for alpha-adrenergic blockers that can cause orthostatic hypotension, timing of medication administration is not the primary concern in addressing dizziness.

C. Stopping medication if dizziness persists: Abruptly stopping medication without consulting a healthcare provider is not recommended, especially for antihypertensive medications. It's important for clients to follow their prescribed treatment plan and communicate any side effects or concerns to their healthcare provider for appropriate management.

D. Rising slowly from a lying or sitting position: This is the correct emphasis for the nurse. Alpha-adrenergic blockers can cause orthostatic hypotension, a drop in blood pressure upon standing, which can lead to dizziness or lightheadedness. To minimize this risk, the client should be advised to rise slowly from lying down or sitting to standing positions. This gradual movement helps the body adjust to changes in blood pressure more effectively.

To calculate the client's total intake for the 8-hour shift, we need to convert all the volumes to milliliters (mL) and then add them together. Here are the given volumes and their conversions:

1,000 mL 0.9% sodium chloride IV (no conversion needed)

One 6-oz cup of coffee:

6 oz * 29.5735 (conversion factor for oz to mL) = approximately 177.44 mL

6 oz of water:

6 oz * 29.5735 = approximately 177.44 mL

One 180-mL bowl of soup (no conversion needed)

3 oz of flavored gelatin:

3 oz * 29.5735 = approximately 88.72 mL

3 oz of ice cream:

3 oz * 29.5735 = approximately 88.72 mL

Now, let's add up all the volumes:

1,000 mL (IV fluid) + 177.44 mL (coffee) + 177.44 mL (water) + 180 mL (soup) + 88.72 mL (gelatin) + 88.72 mL (ice cream) = 1,712.32 mL

Therefore, the nurse should document the client's total intake for the shift as approximately 1,712.32 mL.