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A nurse receives a prescription to administer intravenous cefepime to a client with a bacterial infection. The client has a history of lung cancer and is on a continuous cisplatin infusion. How will the nurse administer the prescribed medication?

Piggyback the cefepime onto the cisplatin infusion

Wait for the cisplatin infusion to finish before administering cefepime

Infuse the cefepime via IV push at the proximal port

Initiate a new intravenous line for the cefepime infusion

User KishanCS
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Final answer:

The nurse should initiate a new intravenous line for the cefepime infusion to avoid potential drug interactions and ensure continuous treatment with cisplatin. Infusing cefepime via IV push or waiting for the cisplatin to finish could cause delays or complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

The administration of cefepime to a client receiving a continuous cisplatin infusion must be done with consideration for potential drug interactions and patient safety. When administering multiple intravenous drugs, it is crucial to follow protocols that minimize the risk of complications, such as drug incompatibilities or line infections.

Given the client's ongoing cisplatin infusion, the nurse has a few options to consider for the administration of cefepime. Since both cisplatin and cefepime are critical medications, the nurse could initiate a new intravenous line for the cefepime infusion. This would avoid potential incompatibility issues between the two drugs and maintain continuous cisplatin treatment.

It may not be advisable to infuse the cefepime via IV push at the proximal port, as this can lead to drug interactions if the drugs are not compatible. Additionally, one should not wait for the cisplatin infusion to finish before administering cefepime since the timely delivery of antibiotics is crucial in managing bacterial infections. Piggybacking cefepime onto the cisplatin infusion might not be preferred unless compatibility is confirmed and the risk of line infection is not increased.

User Hayk
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