RN Exam Practice
Pharmacological and Parenteral TherapiesQuestion 1455 of 2368

A client with a common cold asks the nurse to request an antibiotic. What is the nurse's best response?

  1. Antibiotics do not work against viral infections such as a cold
  2. An antibiotic will shorten the cold if it is started early
  3. Antibiotics are the best treatment for any illness that causes a fever
  4. A short course of antibiotics is safe because resistance only develops with long courses
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Correct answer: Antibiotics do not work against viral infections such as a cold

Antibiotics treat bacterial infections and do not kill viruses. Using them for nonbacterial infections adds to resistance.

Source: Nursing Fundamentals, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2024), Infection: Treating Infection. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026