Question

The nurse is reviewing a new prescription for a client with conjunctivitis that reads: Administer ciprofloxacin solution 1 gtt OD Q4H. Which action should the nurse take next?

A
Squeeze one drop of the medication in the client's left eye every 4 hours.
B
Apply one drop of the medication in the client's right ear every 4 hours.
C
Contact the prescriber to clarify and rewrite the order. Correct Answer (Blank)
D
Ask another nurse for their interpretation of the order.

Answer 1

The correct action is to administer one drop of ciprofloxacin in the client's right eye every four hours as the prescription '1 gtt OD Q4H' indicates application to the right eye (oculus dexter) at the specified frequency.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to the administration of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin for a case of conjunctivitis. The prescription reads: Administer ciprofloxacin solution 1 gtt OD Q4H. This is a medical order and in this context, 'OD' stands for 'oculus dexter' which means the right eye, and 'Q4H' means every 4 hours. Therefore, the correct action by the nurse would be to administer one drop of ciprofloxacin in the client's right eye every 4 hours. Since conjunctivitis can lead to serious complications if left untreated and the nurse must act on medical orders accurately, ensuring proper treatment is vital. Erythromycin might also be used in certain cases to prevent neonatal conjunctivitis, which demonstrates the importance of appropriate antibiotic administration to prevent and treat bacterial infections.