Question

A patient receiving corticosteroids is scheduled for a fifth dose of nivolumab. The patient reports having watery diarrhea with significant abdominal cramping. worsening over the last three days. What action does the nurse take?

A. Requests the physician to withhold the scheduled dose of nivolumab
B. Informs the patient that this is an unexpected side effect of the nivolumab
C. Proceeds with the scheduled dose of nivolumab
D. Requests that the physician dose-reduce the nivolumab

Answer 1

The nurse should request the physician to withhold the scheduled dose of nivolumab.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this case, the patient is exhibiting watery diarrhea with significant abdominal cramping, which can be sign of a possible side effect or adverse reaction to the medication nivolumab. These symptoms should not be ignored, especially considering that they have been worsening over the last three days. The nurse should take the action of requesting the physician to withhold the scheduled dose of nivolumab, as this may have caused or worsened the symptoms.