Question

Intravenous Vancocin (vancomycin) has been ordered for a client with peritonitis. To prevent "red man" syndrome, the nurse should: A. Protect the medication from light B. Flush the line with saline before infusing C. Administer the medication slowly D. Administer acetaminophen before the infusion

Short answer

Answer: Administer the medication slowly.

Step-by-step solution

Analyze the options

For a better understanding of each option, let's analyze them: A. Protect the medication from light: This might be helpful, but it doesn't directly prevent "red man" syndrome. B. Flush the line with saline before infusing: Flushing the line with saline can help if the previous medication could interact negatively with Vancocin. However, it is not directly related to preventing "red man" syndrome. C. Administer the medication slowly: "Red man" syndrome occurs when Vancocin is administered too quickly, leading to histamine release. Administering the medication slowly can help prevent this side effect. D. Administer acetaminophen before the infusion: Acetaminophen can help reduce fever and pain, but it does not prevent "red man" syndrome.

Choose the correct option

Based on the analysis, Option C (Administer the medication slowly) is the best choice for preventing "red man" syndrome when giving intravenous Vancocin to a client with peritonitis. This is because "red man" syndrome is caused by a rapid infusion of Vancocin, and administering the medication slowly can help mitigate this side effect.