Patient data

Exhibits

The nurse is reviewing the orders for the infant of a diabetic mother to determine priorities

Which 6 orders take priority?

A. The tube should be flushed with at least 15–30 mL of water before, between, and after medication administration to prevent clogging and ensure full delivery of the medications.

B. Instructing the nurse to administer each medication separately is correct. This is important to prevent drug interactions within the tube and to ensure accurate dosing. Administering
medications separately allows for proper absorption and can prevent complications such as clogging of the tube.

C. Adding the liquid volumes when documenting fluid intake is correct. It is essential to account for all sources of fluid intake to maintain accurate fluid balance records. Medications
administered through a gastrostomy tube contribute to the patient's overall fluid intake and must be included in the documentation.

D. Confirming that the nurse determined the amount of gastric residual is correct. This is a critical step to ensure that the patient is tolerating the feedings and to prevent complications such as
aspiration. Gastric residual volume can indicate if the patient's digestive system is processing the feeding appropriately.

E. Advising the nurse to use the plunger when giving medications is not necessary in this context. The use of a plunger can be appropriate in some situations, but the scenario does not provide enough information to suggest that the nurse had difficulty administering the medications that would require the use of a plunger. Additionally, using a plunger can increase the risk of tube
damage or patient discomfort.

A. Assessing pupillary response to light is not directly related to the administration of dopamine for hypotension and does not reflect the immediate effects of the medication on the cardiovascular or renal systems.

B. Seizure precautions are not a standard intervention for a patient receiving dopamine unless the patient has a history of seizures or there is another indication for such precautions.

C. Measuring urinary output every hour is essential as it reflects the patient's fluid balance and kidney function, which can be affected by dopamine administration. It is a direct measure of the effectiveness of the medication in improving renal perfusion and the patient's hemodynamic status.

D. While monitoring serum potassium levels is important in patients receiving IV therapy, it is not the most immediate concern when administering dopamine for hypotension, unless the patient has a known electrolyte imbalance.