NURS 3100 Exam 1 Practice

20 minutes after receiving a dose of antibiotic, a patient developed a red, itchy rash. What should the nurse do first?

1. Contact the prescriber and relay this assessment information.

2. Document the presence of the rash in medical record.

3. Place an allergy bracelet on the patient.

4. Plan to watch for a rash after next dose.

The correct answer is: Contact the prescriber and relay this assessment information.

Upon developing a red, itchy rash after receiving an antibiotic, the nurse's first priority should be to contact the prescriber and communicate this assessment information. This is crucial as the rash could be indicative of an allergic reaction to the antibiotic, which requires prompt attention from the prescriber. Documenting the rash in the medical record is important but not the initial priority. Placing an allergy bracelet on the patient would be premature without confirmation of an allergy to the specific antibiotic. Planning to watch for a rash after the next dose is not appropriate in this situation since the patient is already experiencing a reaction. Therefore, contacting the prescriber and relaying the assessment information is the most appropriate action to take first in this scenario.