The patient is receiving vancomycin IV every 8 hours.The order is for a serum peak and trough level after the third dose.The medication is given on an 8 AM,4 PM,and midnight schedule.The third dose will be given at 4 PM.The nurse knows that she has to order the trough level for:

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The point at which the lowest amount of drug is in the serum is the trough concentration.Some medication doses (e.g.,vancomycin,gentamicin)are based on peak and trough serum levels.A patient's trough level is drawn as a blood sample 30 minutes before the drug is administered,and the peak level is drawn whenever the drug is expected to reach its peak concentration.The third dose will be given at 4 PM,which means that the lowest level of drug will be present 30 minutes before the fourth dose at midnight.
A patient's trough level is drawn as a blood sample 30 minutes before the drug is administered.This is 30 minutes after the drug is administered.This is 2 hours after the drug is administered.If the medication reaches its peak concentration in 2 hours,this could be a peak concentration,since the peak level is drawn whenever the drug is expected to reach its peak concentration.12:00 AM is the time that the next dose is due.A patient's trough level is drawn as a blood sample 30 minutes before the drug is administered.

The Patient Is Receiving Vancomycin IV Every 8 Hours