A patient is receiving intravenous vancomycin. The physician wants to know the medication's effectiveness, so a trough drug level is ordered. The nurse should obtain the patient's blood sample:
Explanation
•Vancomycin levels are monitored to ensure the dose ordered is correct to maintain a therapeutic dose.
•A trough is measured during the drug's lowest level, immediately before the next administered dose.
Incorrect options:
•Obtaining a blood sample too early will not represent a
•Obtaining a blood sample after administering the medication would measure a higher level, not a trough.