The nurse is providing Tarceva (erlotinib) intravenously for a client who has small cell lung cancer. The client begins to appear slightly short of breath, respiratory rate has gone from 14 breaths per min to 20 breaths per min and he has been coughing mildly for the past 10 min. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A) Listen to breath sounds to determine if the client is experiencing fluid volume overload.
B) Stop the infusion since there is a risk of interstitial lung disease with this medication.
C) Check the client's temperature to determine if he is developing pneumonia.
D) Reassure the client that a cough is normal as cancer cells are destroyed and continue to monitor closely.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Stopping the infusion is the first and most critical action to take because erlotinib (Tarceva) can cause interstitial lung disease, a potentially fatal condition. The symptoms described could indicate the onset of this serious side effect.

The Nurse Is Providing Tarceva (Erlotinib) Intravenously for a Client