If a patient who is receiving IV fluids develops tenderness, warmth, erythema, and pain at the site, what does the nurse suspect?

A. Asking the patient to confirm their name is insufficient. The nurse should use at least two identifiers (e.g., full name and date of birth) instead of just reading the name aloud.
B. Nurses—not pharmacists—are responsible for independently calculating and verifying dosages before administration.
C. The nurse should check the medication label three times (when removing, before preparing, and at the bedside), not just once.
D. Interpreting illegible handwriting is unsafe. The nurse must clarify immediately with the prescriber before giving the medication.
E. Closing the door of the medication room helps minimize distractions and interruptions, reducing the risk of medication errors.

Rationale:
A. Examining the nares for patency and skin breakdown is important for safety but does not directly reduce discomfort during insertion.
B. Placing the patient in high-Fowler’s position promotes safe passage and reduces aspiration risk, but it does not specifically relieve discomfort.
C. Anesthetizing the throat (e.g., with a topical anesthetic spray or viscous lidocaine) can numb the mucosa, significantly reducing discomfort during NG tube insertion.
D. Having the patient sip water helps advance the tube once insertion has started, but it does not reduce the initial discomfort of tube passage.