Font size
WorksheetsGeneral Antibiotic Concepts and Penicillins
Total questions: 50
Worksheet time: 25mins
The nurse is caring for a client prescribed antibiotics for pneumonia. Which statement by the client requires further teaching?
I’ll finish all of my medication, even if I feel better.
I’ll call the doctor if I get severe diarrhea.
I’ll save any leftover antibiotics in case I get sick again.
This medication only works on bacteria, not viruses.
The nurse monitors for which sign of a superinfection related to antibiotic use?
Oral thrush
Bradycardia
Muscle weakness
Constipation
What is the most important reason to teach clients to complete the entire course of antibiotics?
To prevent antibiotic resistance
To reduce nausea
To prevent allergic reactions
To avoid superinfection
Before giving amoxicillin, the nurse asks about allergies. The client reports a previous reaction to penicillin that caused hives and wheezing. What is the priority action?
Administer diphenhydramine before giving the dose
Notify the provider and withhold the medication
Give the medication slowly over 60 minutes
Document and continue monitoring
Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention after administration of penicillin G?
Rash on the chest
Wheezing and shortness of breath
Nausea
Mild diarrhea
When documenting a client’s allergy to penicillin, the nurse should include which information?
The name of the provider who prescribed it
The specific type of reaction experienced
The date of the last antibiotic use
The reason the antibiotic was prescribed
The nurse is preparing to administer cefazolin before surgery. The client reports an allergy to penicillin that caused anaphylaxis. What should the nurse do?
Give the cefazolin as ordered
Notify the provider before giving the medication
Administer an antihistamine first
Reduce the dose by half
Which statement indicates correct understanding of ceftriaxone teaching?
I’ll stop taking this drug if I feel better.
I should take the full course even if my symptoms go away.
I can drink alcohol while taking this.
If I get diarrhea, it’s not a concern.
Which lab values are most important to monitor while a client is taking cephalosporins?
BUN and creatinine
Platelet count
Blood glucose
Potassium and sodium
Which potential side effect is unique to cephalosporins compared with penicillins?
Bleeding due to vitamin K interference
Red man syndrome
Tendon rupture
Tooth discoloration
The nurse plans to administer vancomycin IV to a client with MRSA. What is the correct nursing action?
Infuse over 15–30 minutes
Infuse over at least 60 minutes
Give IV push slowly
Mix with dextrose 50%
During a vancomycin infusion, the client develops flushing and redness of the face and chest. What should the nurse do first?
Stop the infusion immediately
Increase the infusion rate
Administer an additional dose of vancomycin
Ignore the symptoms and continue the infusion
Which nursing intervention helps prevent nephrotoxicity during vancomycin therapy?
Monitor BUN and creatinine
Administer with dairy products
Encourage exercise
Check liver enzymes daily
Which symptom indicates possible ototoxicity from vancomycin?
Tinnitus and dizziness
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal cramping
Constipation
What is the appropriate time to draw a vancomycin trough level?
2 hours after administration
Immediately before the next dose
4 hours after administration
At bedtime
A client receiving gentamicin reports ringing in the ears. What should the nurse do?
Document the finding and continue therapy
Notify the provider immediately
Administer diphenhydramine
Encourage hydration
The nurse monitors which labs to detect gentamicin toxicity?
Trough levels, BUN, and creatinine
Sodium and potassium
AST and ALT
White blood cell count
A client on tobramycin develops decreased urine output and rising creatinine. What should the nurse suspect?
Nephrotoxicity
Hepatotoxicity
Ototoxicity
Neurotoxicity
What is the best time to obtain a trough level for gentamicin?
Before the next scheduled dose
One hour after administration
At the midpoint of infusion
Immediately after the first dose
Aminoglycosides are most often prescribed for:
Mild skin infections
Viral infections
Severe infections like sepsis or hospital-acquired infections
Fungal infections
Which teaching should the nurse include for a client prescribed ciprofloxacin?
Report any tendon pain or swelling
Avoid taking with fluids
Expect harmless tooth discoloration
Take with milk to decrease stomach upset
Fluoroquinolones carry a black box warning for:
QT prolongation
Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Tendon rupture and tendonitis
Nephrotoxicity
What teaching is important for a client on levofloxacin?
Avoid sunlight and wear sunscreen
Avoid potassium-rich foods
Limit water intake
Report tooth discoloration
A client on ciprofloxacin complains of sudden Achilles tendon pain. What should the nurse do first?
Continue the medication and monitor
Stop the drug and notify the provider
Massage the tendon
Apply heat to the site
Fluoroquinolones are often prescribed for:
fungal infections
MRSA
UTIs and pneumonia
VRE
The nurse knows azithromycin is most commonly used for which condition?
Fungal infections
STIs such as chlamydia
Hypertension
Heart failure
Which adverse effect is associated with macrolides such as erythromycin?
QT prolongation
Nephrotoxicity
Photosensitivity
Tooth discoloration
Which client requires the most careful monitoring during azithromycin therapy?
A client on antidysrhythmic medication
A client with seasonal allergies
A client with arthritis
A client taking iron supplements
What should the nurse teach the client about erythromycin?
Report palpitations or irregular heartbeat
Avoid dairy products
Take with milk
Expect photosensitivity
The nurse knows azithromycin is contraindicated in clients with:
History of long QT syndrome
Allergy to sulfa drugs
Allergy to penicillin
Hypertension
Which statement by a client on doxycycline requires further teaching?
I’ll wear sunscreen when I go outside.
I’ll avoid taking this with milk.
I can give this to my 7-year-old if they get an ear infection.
Tetracyclines should be avoided in pregnancy because they can cause:
Fetal bleeding
Permanent tooth discoloration
Liver damage
Neural tube defects
Which foods or substances reduce tetracycline absorption?
Milk and iron supplements
Bananas and citrus
Leafy greens
Caffeine
What is the best time to take doxycycline?
With a full glass of water, separate from dairy and iron
With milk and food
Before bedtime
With calcium supplements
Which condition is doxycycline commonly prescribed for?
A. Acne
B. Heart failure
C. Hypertension
D. Fungal infections
Which drug is a sulfonamide combination?
Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim
Ciprofloxacin-levofloxacin
Azithromycin-clavulanate
Piperacillin-tazobactam
What instruction is most important for a client taking sulfonamides?
Drink plenty of fluids
Limit water intake
Avoid all dairy
Report constipation
A client develops a widespread rash and blisters after taking sulfadiazine. What should the nurse suspect?
SJS
Phototoxicity
Photosensitivity
Red man syndrome
What is a key preventive teaching point for clients on sulfonamides?
Wear sunscreen and avoid sun exposure
Take with antacids
Avoid dairy products
Reduce water intake
Which condition is sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim most often used to treat?
Viral infections
UTIs
Fungal infections
Ear wax buildup
Which antibiotics are nephrotoxic and ototoxic?
Vancomycin and gentamicin
Doxycycline and azithromycin
Ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole
Penicillin and ceftriaxone
Which antibiotics require trough level monitoring?
Vancomycin and aminoglycosides
Fluoroquinolones and macrolides
Tetracyclines and sulfonamides
Penicillins and cephalosporins
Which antibiotics cause photosensitivity? select all that apply
Tetracyclines
Fluoroquinolones
Sulfonamides
Penicillins
Macrolides
Which antibiotics carry a risk of cross-reactivity with penicillins?
Cephalosporins
Sulfonamides
Tetracyclines
Fluoroquinolones
A client taking erythromycin reports palpitations. What should the nurse do first?
Check the client's ECG
Hold the next dose
Document as expected
Encourage hydration
A client on vancomycin develops flushing and hypotension. What is the most likely cause?
Red man syndrome
Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Anaphylaxis
Superinfection
Which teaching applies to both sulfonamides and fluoroquinolones?
Avoid sun exposure and use sunscreen
Limit fluid intake
Take with dairy to reduce GI upset
Avoid potassium-rich foods
Which antibiotics are contraindicated in children under 8 years old?
Tetracyclines
Penicillins
Sulfonamides
Cephalosporins
Which nursing instruction helps prevent crystalluria in a client taking sulfonamides?
Increase daily fluid intake
Limit salt intake
Take with milk
Avoid vitamin C
A client prescribed gentamicin asks why blood will be drawn before the next dose. What is the nurse’s best response?
“It helps ensure the medication level stays in a safe range.”
“It checks if you’re dehydrated.”
“It’s to test your immune response.”
“It confirms your infection is improving.”
