While assessing a client's wound, the nurse observes that the Jackson Pratt drain has lost suction, What action should the nurse take next?

A. Assure the patient that the reaction was probably a side effect and not an allergy: An itchy rash and wheezing after penicillin are classic signs of an allergic reaction, potentially IgE-mediated. Dismissing these symptoms as a minor side effect is unsafe, as repeat exposure could trigger anaphylaxis, including life-threatening bronchospasm, hypotension, or cardiovascular collapse.

B. Call the pharmacist: While pharmacists can provide guidance on alternative medications or interactions, immediate withholding of the suspected allergen and notifying the prescriber takes priority. Pharmacist consultation is supportive but does not replace urgent clinical decision-making regarding patient safety.

C. Withhold the medication and contact the prescriber: Withholding the penicillin prevents further exposure to a known allergen, and contacting the prescriber allows for safe substitution with an alternative antibiotic. This action aligns with best practices for allergy management and patient safety protocols in medication administration.

D. Administer the antibiotic and observe carefully for a reaction: Administering a medication despite a reported allergic reaction places the patient at high risk for immediate hypersensitivity reactions. Observation alone is insufficient to mitigate the potential for severe outcomes such as anaphylaxis, and this approach violates safe medication administration standards.

A. Difficulty hearing low pitch: Age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, typically affects the ability to hear high-pitched sounds rather than low-pitched sounds. Low-frequency hearing usually remains relatively intact in older adults, so difficulty hearing low-pitch sounds is not considered a normal age-related sensory change.

B. Heightened sense of smell: Olfactory function generally declines with aging due to decreased numbers of olfactory receptor cells and changes in the nasal epithelium. A heightened sense of smell is unusual in older adults and may indicate an underlying medical condition rather than a normal age-related change.

C. Decreased visual accommodation: Decreased accommodation of the lens, known as presbyopia, is a common and expected age-related change. It leads to difficulty focusing on near objects and is caused by lens rigidity and loss of elasticity, which reduces the eye’s ability to adjust for close vision.

D. Increased taste discrimination: Aging is associated with reduced taste sensitivity due to changes in taste buds and saliva production. An increased ability to discriminate tastes is not a normal finding and is inconsistent with typical sensory changes in older adults.