You are the nurse working with a child who has acute renal failure with diminished renal function. The physician orders two new antibiotics to be given stat to this child. What would you do now?

Question

a. Get the antibiotics right away from the pharmacy, and give them immediately.
b. Find out if these drugs are detoxified and excreted by the kidneys and, if so, check with the physician and your supervisor about the safety of giving these drugs.
c. Determine if the child has been taking these same drugs or similar drugs without problems.
d. Weigh the benefits of the medication and the need for it against the risks of the medication being nephrotoxic and doing harm to the kidneys.

Answer 1

B

Feedback
A Incorrect. Prior to administering new antibiotics child who has acute renal failure with diminished renal function, you would not get the antibiotics right away from the pharmacy, and give them immediately.
B Correct. Many medications such as some forms of antibiotics, aminoglycosides, for example, are detoxified and excreted through the kidneys. These medications, then given in the presence of diminished renal function, can be nephrotoxic. Always question the health care practitioner then a medication should be given if renal output is low.
C Incorrect. Prior to administering new antibiotics child who has acute renal failure with diminished renal function, you would not determine if the child has been taking these same drugs or similar drugs without problems.
D Incorrect. Prior to administering new antibiotics child who has acute renal failure with diminished renal function, you would not weigh the benefits of the medication and the need for it against the risks of the medication being nephrotoxic and doing harm to the kidneys.