A nurse is providing instruction to a new nurse about caring for clients who are receiving diuretic therapy to treat heart failure. The nurse should explain that which of the following medications puts clients at risk for both hyperkalemia and hyponatremia?

A) Asking the client to cough while inserting the NG tube:
This action is not necessary and may not be appropriate during the insertion of an NG tube. Coughing can increase the risk of gagging and aspiration during the procedure.

B) Wearing sterile gloves to insert the NG tube:
While the nurse should maintain appropriate hand hygiene, wearing sterile gloves is not typically necessary for the insertion of an NG tube. Clean gloves are sufficient for this procedure.

C) Placing the client into a left lateral position before inserting the NG tube:
Positioning the client in a high Fowler's position (sitting upright) or semi-Fowler's position is generally preferred for NG tube insertion to facilitate tube passage into the esophagus and reduce the risk of aspiration. Placing the client in a left lateral position is not typically done for NG tube insertion.

D) Determining the length of the NG tube to be inserted prior to the procedure:
This is the correct action. Before inserting the NG tube, the nurse should measure the distance from the tip of the client's nose to the earlobe and then from the earlobe to the xiphoid process or the mark on the NG tube corresponding to the desired insertion length. This helps ensure that the tube is inserted to the appropriate depth and reaches the desired location within the gastrointestinal tract.

A) The client reports numbness at the site: Numbness at the insertion site is not a typical finding of infection. It may indicate nerve damage or another issue but is not specific to infection.

B) Purulent drainage noted from the site: Purulent drainage, characterized by pus-like discharge, is a common sign of infection at the insertion site of an intravenous catheter. It suggests the presence of bacteria and inflammation at the site.

C) Skin over the site is sloughing: Sloughing of the skin may occur with severe tissue damage but is not specific to infection. It could indicate other complications such as tissue necrosis or chemical irritation.

D) The vein appears cord-like: A cord-like appearance of the vein, known as thrombophlebitis, can occur with or without infection. It indicates inflammation and clot formation within the vein, which can be a complication of intravenous catheter insertion, but it does not specifically indicate infection.