Question

A nurse is preparing to administer a new prescription of amoxicillin/clavulanic to a client. The client tells the nurse that he is allergic to penicillin. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

a) Administer the medication as prescribed
b) Withhold the medication and notify the provider
c) Request clarification from the provider about the prescription
d) Assess the severity of the client's penicillin allergy
e) Administer an antihistamine prophylactically

Answer 1

A nurse should withhold the medication and notify the provider if a client reports a penicillin allergy. The nurse must also assess the severity of the allergy and consider requesting clarification or an alternative treatment from the provider.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a client informs the nurse that they are allergic to penicillin, the first action the nurse should take is to withhold the medication and notify the provider. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid is a combination antibiotic that includes amoxicillin, a penicillin derivative. Given the client's allergy, there is a risk of a severe allergic reaction, potentially anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. The nurse must ensure the safety of the client by not administering a medication that contains an allergen to which the client has a known allergy.

After withholding the medication, the nurse should assess the severity of the client's penicillin allergy and document this information. This helps inform the provider's decision-making regarding an alternative treatment. Subsequently, the nurse should communicate with the health care provider either to request clarification on the prescription or recommend an alternative antibiotic that is safe for the client to use, such as azithromycin or another non-penicillin-based antibiotic.

Administering an antihistamine prophylactically is not appropriate prior to confirming the allergy with the health care provider and having an alternative treatment plan in place.