A patient who has been taking gentamicin for 5 days reports a headache and dizziness. What will the nurse do?
a. Request an order for a gentamicin peak level.
b. Suspect ototoxicity and notify the prescriber.
c. Tell the patient to ask for help with ambulation.
d. Tell the patient to report any tinnitus.
ANS: B
Headache and dizziness are signs of ototoxicity, and the prescriber should be notified. A peak level is not indicated; it is more important to know the trough level. Telling the patient to ask for help with ambulation and to report tinnitus should both be done but are not the priority nursing action.
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