A nurse is caring for a client prescribed Furosemide. Which nursing action is most appropriate regarding monitoring for hypokalemia, ototoxicity, and orthostatic hypotension?

• 1 Take each dose with a full glass of milk instead of water, and limit your total fluid intake to approximately 1 liter per day; this will concentrate the antibiotic in your urine, enhancing its ability to eradicate bacteria, and the milk will coat your stomach to prevent nausea. This approach also decreases the risk of drug crystals forming in the urine.
• 2 To improve absorption and minimize gastrointestinal side effects, crush the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole tablet and mix the powder with a suspension of an antacid like aluminum hydroxide or calcium carbonate; this will buffer stomach acid and speed up dissolution, leading to faster relief of UTI symptoms.
• 3 It is acceptable to discontinue the medication once your symptoms of dysuria, frequency, and urgency have subsided, as the bacterial load is already reduced sufficiently, and prolonged antibiotic exposure increases the risk of adverse reactions such as Clostridioides difficile infection and drug-resistant organisms. ✓ Correct answer
• 4 Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water daily to prevent crystalluria, complete the entire 5-day course, avoid sun and use sunscreen because of photosensitivity, report rash, blistering, mucosal sores, fever, swelling, or breathing difficulty immediately, and report a known sulfa allergy if not already documented.

For study reference only. Always follow current clinical guidelines and your institution’s protocols.