A nurse is preparing to administer penicillin G to a client. The client states, 'The last time I had penicillin, I broke out in hives and had trouble breathing.' What is the nurse's immediate action?

Question: A nurse is preparing to administer penicillin G to a client. The client states, 'The last time I had penicillin, I broke out in hives and had trouble breathing.' What is the nurse's immediate action?

Answer options:

• Administer an antihistamine as a prophylactic measure before giving the penicillin. ✅ Notify the prescriber immediately and withhold the medication.
• Administer a smaller test dose of penicillin to assess the reaction.
• Explain that the current penicillin formulation is different and may not cause a reaction.

Correct answer: Notify the prescriber immediately and withhold the medication.

Explanation: The client describes a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to penicillin. The nurse must immediately notify the prescriber and withhold the medication to prevent potentially life-threatening harm, exemplifying error prevention.