Which lab is a priority for the nurse to check before administering an antibacterial agent?

4. Which lab is a priority for the nurse to check before administering an antibacterial agent?

Blood glucose

Liver enzymes

Potassium level

White Blood Cell (WBC) count

Rationale

Before administering any antibacterial agent, it is important to check a patient’s WBC count. Monitoring the white blood cell count before and throughout therapy provides the nurse with information on the drug’s effectiveness. Although a patient may have other conditions that require monitoring blood glucose, liver enzymes, or potassium level, these would not be the priority for antibacterial therapy.

Test-Taking Tip:
Choose the best answer for questions asking for a single answer. More than one answer may be correct, but one answer may contain more information or more important information than another answer.

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