A patient is experiencing nausea and decreased appetite during drug therapy with a tetracycline antibiotic.
What is the nurse’s best advice to the patient?

The correct answer is Choice C.

Let’s go through the calculation step by step:

Step 1: Identify the order and the available medication. The order is for dexamethasone (Decadron) 6mg IM. The available stock is dexamethasone 4mg/1ml in a 5ml multidose vial.

Step 2: Determine the amount of medication needed to fulfill the order. This is done by dividing the ordered amount by the concentration of the available medication.

So, we have:

Step 2 Calculation=Concentration of Available MedicationOrdered Amount Substituting the given values: Step 2 Calculation=4 mg/mL6 mg Step 3: Perform the calculation.

Step 3 Calculation=1.5 mL

So, the nurse will prepare 1.5 mL of this medication.

Now, let’s discuss the rationales for each choice:

Choice A rationale:

75 mLs is not the correct amount. This would be a significantly larger dose than ordered, which could lead to an overdose.

Choice B rationale:

5 mLs is not the correct amount. This would also be a larger dose than ordered, which could lead to an overdose.

Choice C rationale:

1.5 mLs is the correct amount. This is calculated by dividing the ordered dose (6 mg) by the concentration of the available medication (4 mg/mL).

Choice D rationale:

15 mLs is not the correct amount. This would be a significantly larger dose than ordered, which could lead to an overdose.

Choice A rationale:

The statement “The intravenous medication will have delayed absorption into the body’s tissues” is incorrect. Intravenous (IV) therapy is administering fluids directly into a vein. It benefits treatment by enabling water, medication, blood, or nutrients to access the body faster through the circulatory system. This bypasses the gastric system so the body can take on more fluids quickly. Therefore, the absorption of intravenous medication into the body’s tissues is not delayed but rather immediate.

Choice B rationale:

The statement “The action of the medication will begin sooner when given intravenously” is correct. Administering a medication intravenously eliminates the process of drug absorption and breakdown by directly depositing it into the blood. This results in the immediate elevation of serum levels and high concentration in vital organs, such as the heart, brain, and kidneys. Therefore, the action of the medication begins sooner when given intravenously.

Choice C rationale:

The statement “The medication will cause fewer adverse effects when given intravenously” is not necessarily true. While some medications might cause fewer adverse effects when given intravenously, this is not a general rule for all medications. The adverse effects of a medication depend on various factors including the type of medication, the dose, the patient’s health condition, and more.

Choice D rationale:

The statement “There is a lower chance of allergic reactions when drugs are given intravenously” is not necessarily true. The chance of allergic reactions depends on various factors including the type of drug, the patient’s immune response, previous exposure to the drug, and more. It’s not related to the route of administration.