A nurse working in the office of a health care provider receives 4 telephone messages. Which client call should the nurse return first?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The first phone call the nurse should return is to the client with acute sinusitis prescribed azithromycin 3 days ago and now reporting hives. Hives can be a manifestation of hypersensitivity to the macrolide antibiotic azithromycin. Anaphylaxis is a potential complication, and the drug should be discontinued immediately. Anaphylaxis poses the greatest threat to survival, so this is the priority call. (Option B) Narcotic refills cannot be prescribed on the telephone and a new prescription is necessary; this is not the priority call. (Option C) A low-grade temperature, myalgia, headache, congestion, pain, redness, and itching at the injection site are common side effects within 24 hours after receiving the influenza vaccine. Clients often believe they have the flu because the manifestations are similar; this is not the priority call. (Option D) Palpitations are a common, expected side effect after use of a short-acting beta-agonist metered-dose inhaler. The nurse will assess the client's respiratory status and ask how often the client uses the rescue inhaler; this is not the priority call. Educational objective: The same frameworks that guide nurses to prioritize nursing care can guide them to prioritize returning client phone calls as well. These include Maslow's hierarchy of needs; and airway, breathing, cardiac status, circulation, and vital signs (ABC plus V).

A Nurse Working in the Office of a Health Care