A patient with diabetes who has bacterial pneumonia is being treated with IV gentamicin. What should the nurse monitor for adverse effects of the medication?

A. Serum creatinine: Gentamicin is nephrotoxic and can cause acute kidney injury. Monitoring serum creatinine provides early detection of renal impairment, which is a serious adverse effect of aminoglycosides. B. Urine osmolality: While changes in urine concentration may occur with renal problems, it is not the most sensitive or routine measure for detecting gentamicin toxicity compared to serum creatinine. C. Blood glucose: This must be monitored in diabetes, but it is unrelated to gentamicin toxicity. Altered glucose levels are not a direct adverse effect of aminoglycoside therapy. D. Serum potassium: Gentamicin does not typically cause significant electrolyte disturbances like hyperkalemia or hypokalemia. Electrolyte monitoring is important in renal disease, but creatinine remains the primary marker of drug toxicity.