A nurse is assisting with the plan of care for an infant who has heart failure. Which of the following actions should the nurse recommend to include in the plan of care?

Choice A rationale:
Correct Answer. Placing the medication along the side of the child's tongue is a recommended technique for administering oral medication to infants. This helps prevent the infant from spitting out the medication and encourages swallowing. Placing the medication directly on the center of the tongue might trigger the gag reflex.
Choice B rationale:
Putting small bits of ice on the child's tongue prior to administering the medication is not a standard technique and is not necessary for giving liquid medication. This could potentially create discomfort for the infant and may not contribute to effective medication administration.
Choice C rationale:
Positioning the child on their back during administration of the medication is not ideal. This position might increase the risk of choking. Placing the child in an upright or slightly inclined position is generally recommended to aid in swallowing and prevent choking.
Choice D rationale:
Adding the medication to the child's formula prior to feeding is not advisable without consulting a healthcare provider. Mixing medication with formula can alter the medication's effectiveness or interactions. It's important to administer medications separately from formula to ensure accurate dosing. The correct answer is choice C. Document the infant's respiratory rate every 2 hr. The correct answer is choice D. Adopted. The correct answer is choice A. "You should place the medication along the side of your child's tongue during administration."

Choice A rationale:
Ensuring the infant bottle feeds for 45 minutes is not recommended for an infant with heart failure. Prolonged feeding sessions can lead to increased fatigue and stress on the infant's cardiovascular system, exacerbating the heart failure symptoms.
Choice B rationale:
Administering digoxin for a pulse of 70/min is not appropriate. Digoxin is commonly used in heart failure cases to improve cardiac contractility and reduce heart rate. However, giving digoxin solely based on the heart rate without considering other factors can lead to potential overdose and adverse effects.
Choice C rationale:
(Correct Choice) Allowing for frequent rest periods is crucial in the plan of care for an infant with heart failure. Infants with heart failure often experience fatigue and difficulty feeding due to compromised cardiac function. Allowing them to rest between activities helps conserve energy and supports their overall well-being.
Choice D rationale:
Maintaining the infant in a supine position is not the best choice for an infant with heart failure. While the supine position is recommended for safe sleep to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), it may not be optimal for an infant with heart failure. An inclined position may be more suitable to alleviate potential respiratory distress.