A client is receiving a secondary IV infusion of azithromycin 500 mg in 500 mL of normal saline (NS) to be infused over 2 hours. The IV administration set delivers 20 gtt/mL. How many gtt/min should the nurse regulate the infusion? (Enter numerical value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest whole number.)

A. Encourage the client's family to visit more often: The client is withdrawn, increased visits may feel overwhelming. This approach assumes the client is ready for interaction, which may not be the case, and does not directly address communication barriers.

B. Encourage the client to participate in group activities: This may be premature for a client who is severely withdrawn. Pushing participation too soon may increase distress or resistance, making rapport-building through simpler interactions more effective initially.

C. Engage the client in non-threatening conversations: Starting with gentle, non-intrusive conversations helps build trust and re-establish communication. It meets the client where they are emotionally and lays a foundation for further therapeutic engagement without increasing anxiety or pressure.

D. Schedule a daily conference with the social worker: Daily meetings may not be feasible or welcomed by a withdrawn client. Interventions should first aim to re-establish connection through nurse-client interaction.

A. Clarify end of life desires: While understanding a client’s goals is vital, this may not address her immediate needs. The client is already showing signs of distress and hypoxia, so initiating comfort measures promptly is more urgent than discussing future preferences.

B. Offer sips of favorite beverages: Offering fluids may help with oral comfort but does not address the client’s respiratory distress or overall suffering. It is a low-priority intervention in the setting of acute hypoxia and confusion related to terminal illness.

C. Initiate comfort measures: Comfort measures are the priority for a terminally ill client with hypoxia and confusion who is refusing food and expressing a wish to go home. This aligns care with the client's likely stage in the dying process and ensures symptom relief over aggressive interventions.

D. Prepare for emergent oral intubation: Intubation is invasive and likely inconsistent with palliative goals in end-stage cancer. Without clear patient consent or indication that life-prolonging measures are desired, focusing on comfort is more appropriate and ethical.