According to Chelsea's BMI of 17, she would be classified as?

Step 1 is: The physician ordered 500 mg and the available concentration is 330 mg/mL. To find the volume to administer, divide the ordered dose by the available concentration: 500 mg ÷ 330 mg/mL.

Step 2 is: 500 ÷ 330 = 1.5151.

Step 3 is: Round to the nearest hundredth as is common for medication administration: 1.52 mL.

Final answer: The nurse will administer 1.52 mL.

Choice A rationale

NPO (nothing by mouth) until dysphagia subsides might be a temporary measure immediately following a stroke to prevent aspiration. However, prolonged NPO status can lead to malnutrition and dehydration. The plan of care should aim for the safest and most effective route for nutritional support as soon as feasible, considering the patient's swallowing ability.

Choice B rationale

Initiation of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is a method of providing nutrition intravenously, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract. TPN is typically reserved for patients with a non-functional or severely impaired digestive system. For a patient with dysphagia after a stroke, if the gastrointestinal tract is functional, enteral feeding (via a feeding tube) is often preferred over TPN due to its physiological benefits and lower risk of complications.

Choice C rationale

A mechanical soft diet consists of foods that are easy to chew and swallow. The texture of the food is altered (e.g., pureed, mashed, ground) to reduce the effort required for mastication and swallowing, thereby decreasing the risk of aspiration in patients with dysphagia. This type of diet is a common nutritional therapy for individuals with mild to moderate swallowing difficulties following a stroke.

Choice D rationale

Supplements via NG tube (nasogastric tube) involve delivering liquid nutritional formulas directly into the stomach through a tube inserted into the nose and down the esophagus. While an NG tube can provide necessary nutrition for patients with dysphagia, a gastrostomy tube (G-tube or PEG tube), placed directly into the stomach through the abdominal wall, is often preferred for long-term enteral feeding as it is generally more comfortable and less likely to cause irritation than an NG tube.