A nurse is doing a shift assessment on a group of patients after first taking report. An elderly patient is having her second dose of IV antibiotics for a diagnosis of pneumonia. The nurse notices a new rash on the patients chest. The nurse should ask what priority question regarding the presence of a reddened rash?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should suspect an allergic reaction to the antibiotic therapy. Allergies can be a significant threat to the patients immediate health, thus questions addressing this possibility would be prioritized over those addressing sensation. Asking about previous rashes is important, but this should likely be framed in the context of an allergy assessment.

A Nurse Is Doing a Shift Assessment on a Group