Final answer:
The nurse should instruct the client with a positive gonorrhea culture to abstain from sexual activity, administer prescribed antibiotics such as ceftriaxone and azithromycin, advise the client to notify all sexual partners, and encourage the practice of safe sex.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nurse is caring for a client who has a positive gonorrhea culture, there are several actions that should be taken to ensure proper treatment and to help prevent the spread of the infection:
- Instruct the client to abstain from sexual activity until the completion of the treatment and confirmation of cure, to avoid transmitting the infection to others.
- Administer antibiotics as prescribed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend a combination regimen of ceftriaxone and azithromycin due to antibiotic resistance and potential co-infection with Chlamydia trachomatis.
- Advise the client to notify all sexual partners of their infection so that the partners can seek testing and treatment if necessary, to prevent reinfection and spread of the infection.
- Encourage the client to practice safe sex in the future, which includes using condoms and having regular STI screenings, especially if the client has multiple or new sexual partners.