Vancomycin (Vancocin) Nursing Considerations
Included In This Lesson
Study Tools For Vancomycin (Vancocin) Nursing Considerations
Outline
Generic Name
vancomycin
Trade Name
Vancocin
Indication
life threatening infections, sepsis
Action
bactericidal, inhibits cell wall synthesis
Therapeutic Class
anti-infectives
Pharmacologic Class
glycopeptides
Nursing Considerations
• can cause ototoxicity, nausea, vomiting, nephrotoxicity, anaphylaxis, red-man syndrome
• assess for infection
• obtain culture prior to initiating therapy
• monitor blood pressure
• dose dependent draw serum trough levels frequently
• administer over at least 60 minutes to avoid skin irritation
Transcript
Okay, let’s talk about the drug vancomycin also known as van cosin. This is an IV medication, as you can see here, and it also comes in an oral form. Vancomycin is an anti infective agent is how the drug works in the body. The pharmacologic class, or its chemical effect is a glycopeptide antibiotic. Vancomycin works as a bacterial Cytal agent, which is why we use it for the treatment of life-threatening infections, sepsis. And in the oral form, we use vancomycin for the treatment of C diff. So with vancomycin, sometimes we can see side effects, including auto toxicity, nausea, vomiting, and probably it’s best known for the side effect of the red man syndrome or the sudden redness after initiating the medication, a few nursing considerations for vancomycin. It may cause nephrotoxicity and anaphylaxis. Be sure to assess your patient’s infection while on vancomycin obtain cultures prior to the start of therapy, monitor your patient’s blood pressure and serum trough levels.
And these are going to determine the patient’s dose, teach the patient to report any allergies as well as any side effects to the provider. So I just wanted to let you know that peak levels are not necessary and should not be drawn. And also there is an important drug interaction between vancomycin and Theil these two together, the, there is a much higher risk of acute kidney injury. So be aware of that. Also, guys, you’re not going to believe this, but I actually had a patient today who we started vancomycin on. Um, they were in for surgery and shortly after com of shortly after initiating the myin, the patient suddenly became very red. Um, and this side effect I’ve actually seen on many occasions and eventually you’ll see it too. If you haven’t already that’s it for vancomycin or Vanko now go out and be your best self today. And as always happy nursing, I.
Study Plan for Study Skills, Test Taking for the NCLEX® Using Med-Surg (Lewis 10th ed.) designed for Westmoreland County Community College
Concepts Covered:
- Concepts of Population Health
- Factors Influencing Community Health
- Community Health Overview
- Substance Abuse Disorders
- Upper GI Disorders
- Renal Disorders
- Newborn Care
- Integumentary Disorders
- Tissues and Glands
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Brain
- Digestive System
- Urinary Disorders
- Urinary System
- Musculoskeletal Trauma
- Concepts of Mental Health
- Health & Stress
- Developmental Theories
- Fundamentals of Emergency Nursing
- Communication
- Basics of NCLEX
- Test Taking Strategies
- Prioritization
- Delegation
- Emotions and Motivation
- Integumentary Disorders
- Legal and Ethical Issues
- Basic
- Preoperative Nursing
- Labor and Delivery
- Fetal Development
- Newborn Complications
- Postpartum Complications
- Postpartum Care
- Labor Complications
- Pregnancy Risks
- Prenatal Concepts
- Circulatory System
- Cardiac Disorders
- Emergency Care of the Cardiac Patient
- Vascular Disorders
- Shock
- Postoperative Nursing
- Intraoperative Nursing
- Oncology Disorders
- Neurological Emergencies
- Respiratory Disorders
- Female Reproductive Disorders
- Acute & Chronic Renal Disorders
- Liver & Gallbladder Disorders
- Lower GI Disorders
- Disorders of Pancreas
- Disorders of the Thyroid & Parathyroid Glands
- Disorders of the Adrenal Gland
- Disorders of the Posterior Pituitary Gland
- Immunological Disorders
- Hematologic Disorders
- EENT Disorders
- Integumentary Important Points
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Emergency Care of the Neurological Patient
- Peripheral Nervous System Disorders
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Spinal Cord
- Neurologic and Cognitive Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Noninfectious Respiratory Disorder
- Respiratory Emergencies
- Infectious Respiratory Disorder
- Psychological Emergencies
- Trauma-Stress Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Cognitive Disorders
- Bipolar Disorders
- Depressive Disorders
- Psychotic Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
- Somatoform Disorders
- Infectious Disease Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Renal and Urinary Disorders
- Cardiovascular Disorders
- EENT Disorders
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Hematologic Disorders
- Oncologic Disorders
- Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
- Childhood Growth and Development
- Adulthood Growth and Development
- Medication Administration
- Nervous System
- Dosage Calculations
- Learning Pharmacology
- Prefixes
- Suffixes