A patient who has human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has developed pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) and will receive parenteral pentamidine (Pentam 300). The nurse caring for this patient will:
a. administer the drug with the patient supine and monitor the blood pressure closely.
b. inform the patient to report coughing and shortness of breath.
c. teach the patient that darkening of the urine may occur with this drug.
d. tell the patient to report yellow discoloration of the sclerae.
ANS: A
Parenteral pentamidine can cause sudden and severe hypotension in 1% of patients, so patients should receive the drug while lying down, and nurses should monitor the blood pressure while giving the drug. Coughing and shortness of breath occur with the inhaled form of the drug. Darkening of the urine is a side effect of metronidazole. Yellow discoloration of the sclerae occurs with nitazoxanide.
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