When monitoring patients on antitubercular drug therapy, the nurse knows that which drug may cause a decrease in visual acuity?

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:

Waiting to see if the fever gets worse is not the best course of action. Fever is a symptom that the body is fighting off an infection, and it can cause discomfort in children. However, the main concern with chickenpox and fever is not the fever itself, but the risk of complications from the chickenpox. Therefore, it’s important to manage the fever for the child’s comfort but also monitor for any signs of complications.

Choice B rationale:

Aspirin should not be given to children or teenagers who have chickenpox or flu symptoms before a doctor is consulted about Reye’s Syndrome, a rare but serious illness. Reye’s syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition that has been associated with aspirin use in children and adolescents with viral illnesses, especially chickenpox or influenza.

Choice C rationale:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) should be used to reduce his fever, not aspirin. This is because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome associated with aspirin use in children and adolescents who have viral illnesses. Acetaminophen is a safe and effective choice for fever reduction in children.

Choice D rationale:

While it’s important to always follow the instructions on the bottle when giving medication, aspirin should not be used in children or teenagers with chickenpox due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome. Therefore, this advice could potentially lead to a dangerous situation.