A 75-year-old patient is readmitted to the hospital to treat recurrent pneumonia. The patient had been discharged home with a prescription for antibiotics 5 days prior. The nurse admitting this patient will take which initial action?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should first determine how many doses of the prescribed antibiotic the patient has taken to ensure proper adherence to the treatment plan. This information can help guide further assessment and treatment decisions. While obtaining information about OTC drug use and discussing increasing the antibiotic dose may be important, they are not the initial actions the nurse should take in this situation. Obtaining a creatinine clearance test may also be important, particularly if the patient has a history of renal impairment or is receiving nephrotoxic medications, but this also is not the initial action the nurse should take.

A 75-Year-Old Patient Is Readmitted to the Hospital to Treat