The health care provider prescribes IV vancomycin for a patient with pneumonia. Which priority action should the nurse perform before the first dose of the antibiotic?

Choice A reason: Nursing supervisors generally oversee nursing staff and ensure that patient care standards are being met, but they are not primarily responsible for developing individualized plans of care.

Choice B reason: Registered nurses (RNs) are trained and licensed to develop individualized plans of care that include nursing diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes. They work closely with patients to understand their needs and create a plan that supports their health goals, including self-management care.

Choice C reason: Health care providers, such as medical doctors (MDs) or nurse practitioners (NPs), are responsible for diagnosing and treating medical conditions, but the development of detailed nursing care plans is typically outside their primary scope of practice.

Choice D reason: Licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VN) provide basic nursing care and assist with patient care activities, but they do not generally develop comprehensive nursing care plans, which require the higher level of training and education that RNs receive.

Choice A reason: While elevated bilirubin levels can indicate liver dysfunction and lead to jaundice, they are not the primary cause of hepatic coma. Bilirubin is a byproduct of red blood cell breakdown and its accumulation can cause yellowing of the skin and eyes.

Choice B reason: Calcium levels, whether high or low, can affect neuromuscular function and cardiac health, but they are not directly associated with causing hepatic coma. Hypercalcemia or hypocalcemia can present with various symptoms, but not typically with hepatic coma.

Choice C reason: Elevated ammonia levels are directly associated with hepatic coma. In patients with severe liver dysfunction, the liver cannot efficiently convert ammonia (a byproduct of protein metabolism) into urea for excretion. The accumulation of ammonia in the blood can cross the blood-brain barrier and lead to encephalopathy, resulting in confusion, altered mental status, and potentially hepatic coma.

Choice D reason: Sodium levels can affect neurological function, particularly with conditions like hypernatremia or hyponatremia. However, these imbalances are not the primary cause of hepatic coma. The direct link to hepatic coma is through elevated ammonia levels.