What is the expected action of a nurse when administering ciprofloxacin to a client allergic to all cephalosporins?

When administering ciprofloxacin to a client known to have an allergy to all cephalosporins, the expected action is to administer the medication as prescribed. Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, which is chemically distinct from cephalosporins, despite some superficial similarities. Therefore, having an allergy to cephalosporins generally does not indicate a cross-reactivity with fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin.

It's important to recognize that while allergies to certain drug classes can lead to cautious prescribing practices, the lack of a direct correlation between cephalosporin allergies and fluoroquinolone medications allows for safe administration of ciprofloxacin, provided the client does not have a specific allergy to fluoroquinolones themselves. In this scenario, the nurse can properly follow the prescription without needing to withhold the medication or consult for alternatives, as long as the client has not reported an allergy to ciprofloxacin specifically.

Performing an allergy test or consulting the provider for an alternative medication would typically be responses employed when there’s a known risk or uncertainty surrounding medication safety for the patient. However, given the distinction between these drug classes, administering ciprofloxacin is appropriate when the patient does not exhibit a direct allergy