The practical nurse (PN) administers an antibiotic to a client with a respiratory tract infection. To evaluate the medication's effectiveness, which laboratory values should the PN monitor? (Select all that apply.)
Explanation & Rationale
A. Monitoring the white blood cell count helps assess the body's response to the infection and the effectiveness of the antibiotic treatment. B. Capillary glucose monitoring is typically associated with diabetes management and might not directly reflect antibiotic effectiveness in a respiratory tract infection. C. Sputum culture and sensitivity assist in identifying the specific organism causing the respiratory tract infection and determining antibiotic effectiveness. D. Prothrombin time is more related to clotting factors and might not directly reflect antibiotic effectiveness in a respiratory tract infection. E. Urinalysis might not directly reflect the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment for a respiratory tract infection. F. Serum potassium might not directly reflect the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment for a respiratory tract infection.