A nurse is preparing to administer methylphenidate 7.5 mg PO to a school-age child who has ADHD. The amount available is methylphenidate oral solution 5 mg/5 mL. How many mL of the medication should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero)

A. Black out the line with a felt-tip pen: Blacking out a space or entry is inappropriate because it obscures the original documentation, making the record appear altered or falsified. Medical documentation must remain clear, transparent, and legally defensible at all times.

B. Draw a horizontal line through the space and sign at the end of the line: Drawing a single horizontal line through the blank space ensures that no unauthorized additions can be made later. Signing at the end of the line maintains the integrity and completeness of the medical record, following accepted documentation standards.

C. Place the date at the beginning of the space, followed by double lines: Simply dating the space without properly securing it with a line could leave it open to later insertions. Double lines are also not a recognized standard method for handling blank spaces in documentation.

D. Leave the space as it is within the entry: Leaving a blank space unmarked can create opportunities for someone to add unauthorized information later. This poses legal and ethical risks and compromises the reliability and security of the medical record.

A. Administer the tablet to the client with applesauce: Administering the tablet with a small amount of soft food like applesauce can help facilitate swallowing without altering the integrity of the enteric coating. This method eases the swallowing process while ensuring the medication is delivered properly.

B. Position the client at a 45-degree angle: Clients who have difficulty swallowing should be positioned in an upright 90-degree sitting position, not at 45 degrees, to reduce the risk of aspiration and promote safer swallowing mechanics.

C. Crush the tablet and mix it in pudding for the client: Enteric-coated tablets should never be crushed, as crushing destroys the protective coating designed to prevent the medication from being released in the stomach, potentially causing irritation or reducing drug effectiveness.

D. Instruct the client to tilt their head back when swallowing: Tilting the head back increases the risk of choking and aspiration, especially in clients with swallowing difficulties. It is safer to encourage tucking the chin slightly down when swallowing to help protect the airway.