A nurse is preparing to assist a client out of bed to a wheelchair following left knee surgery. The nurse should identify that which of the following images indicates the correct placement of the wheelchair?

A. Leave the needle in place for 10 seconds after the injection: Leaving the needle in place for approximately 10 seconds after administering a subcutaneous injection helps ensure full delivery of the medication and reduces the chance of medication leakage at the injection site.

B. Use a 5-inch needle for the injection: A 5-inch needle is excessively long for subcutaneous injections and would likely penetrate muscle tissue, increasing the risk of injury or incorrect medication administration. Subcutaneous injections typically require a needle length between ⅜ and ⅝ inch.

C. Inject the medication using the Z-track technique: The Z-track technique is used for intramuscular injections to minimize medication leakage and reduce irritation. It is not appropriate for subcutaneous injections, which are administered into the fatty layer beneath the skin, not deep muscle tissue.

D. Insert the syringe at a 15° angle during injection: A 15° angle is used for intradermal injections. Subcutaneous injections should be administered at a 45° to 90° angle depending on the client’s body mass to ensure the medication is delivered into the subcutaneous tissue, not the dermis or muscle.

A. Check the client's medical records to see which medications were recently administered:
While reviewing medications is important for understanding potential causes of hypoxia, it is not the immediate priority when a client’s oxygen saturation is low. Immediate assessment and intervention to improve oxygenation come first.

B. Notify the charge nurse of the client's condition: Notifying the charge nurse is important but should follow an initial assessment and attempt to address the problem. Immediate client reassessment takes precedence to determine the current status and possible interventions.

C. Review the client's most recent SaO2 level in the medical record: Checking prior oxygen saturation levels can provide context but does not directly address the acute finding of 88% saturation, which requires prompt evaluation and action.

D. Recheck the client's SaO2 level after having the client cough and clear their throat: This action directly addresses a common cause of transient hypoxia such as airway obstruction from secretions. Reassessment after clearing the airway is the priority to determine if oxygenation improves before escalating interventions.