What is the most important consideration for the nurse administering vancomycin?

What is the most important consideration for the nurse administering vancomycin?

Some considerations for nurses administering vancomycin include ensuring a patent IV line, planning for administration of the preoperative dose as much as two hours before the initial incision is made, and including information about the dose and timing of preoperative vancomycin administration in the surgical time out …

What should be monitored when taking vancomycin?

Vancomycin Monitoring

• Vancomycin serum concentrations should be checked to optimize therapy and used as a surrogate marker of effectiveness.
• Trough, rather than peak, levels should be monitored.
• Trough levels should be checked just before the fourth dose, when steady-state levels are likely to have been achieved.

What should you assess before administering vancomycin?

Examination and Evaluation

1. Monitor signs of hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis, including pulmonary symptoms (tightness in the throat and chest, wheezing, cough dyspnea) or skin reactions (rash, pruritus, urticaria).
2. Assess blood pressure periodically and compare to normal values (See Appendix F).

What are contraindications of vancomycin?

Who should not take VANCOMYCIN HCL?

• systemic mastocytosis.
• low levels of a type of white blood cell called neutrophils.
• hearing loss.
• kidney disease with likely reduction in kidney function.

How do you administer vancomycin IV?

Vancomycin should be infused slowly in a dilute solution (2.5 to 5.0 mg/ml) at a rate no greater than 10 mg/min and over a period not less than 60 minutes to avoid rapid infusion-related reactions. Stopping the infusion usually results in a prompt cessation of these reactions.

What is the most common adverse reaction to IV vancomycin?

The most common adverse reaction to vancomycin is “vancomycin infusion reaction (VIR),” previously known as “red man syndrome,” although we will avoid further use of this term for the reasons outlined previously.

When should you hold vancomycin?

The trough should be collected before the 4th dose is administered (prior to steady state). Unfortunately, the practice of waiting until the fourth dose to measure the trough level may expose a patient to several days of sub-optimal therapy.

How do you administer vancomycin?

Vancomycin shall only be administered as slow intravenous infusion of at least one hour duration or at a maximum rate of 10 mg/min (whichever is longer) which is sufficiently diluted (at least 100 ml per 500 mg or at least 200 ml per 1000 mg) (see section 4.4).

What complications are associated with IV vancomycin treatment?

Side Effects

• Black, tarry stools.
• blood in the urine or stools.
• continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears.
• cough or hoarseness.
• dizziness or lightheadedness.
• feeling of fullness in the ears.
• fever with or without chills.
• general feeling of tiredness or weakness.

Can you give vancomycin through a peripheral IV?

Consequently, you shouldn’t administer it via peripheral veins—despite what you read in the package insert. Drugs with a pH below 5, including vancomycin, shouldn’t be infused through a peripheral vein, according to current Infusion Nurses Society standards of practice.

Is vancomycin safe for breastfeeding?

Safe During Breastfeeding: IV vancomycin is excreted in milk during breastfeeding, but there is no indication of any side effects on the infant or nursing toddler. Clinical testing proves only a small amount of the drug passes to the infant – less than the dose prescribed for colitis in infants.