The healthcare provider orders 5,000 units of heparin subcutaneously every 8 hours. The vial label reads heparin sodium 10,000 units/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse administer per dose? (DO NOT ROUND. LABEL CORRECTLY TO RECEIVE CREDIT)

A. Administer IV antibiotics:Antibiotics are essential for treating the underlying infection, but their effect on improving oxygenation is not immediate. While they target the pneumonia-causing pathogen, they do not directly support respiratory function in the acute phase.

B. Encourage oral fluids:Hydration helps thin secretions and supports overall recovery, but oral fluids alone will not rapidly improve oxygen saturation in a patient with hypoxemia. This intervention is supportive but not the most urgent or direct for addressing oxygenation.

C. Apply nasal cannula oxygen @ 2L/min via nasal cannula:With an oxygen saturation of 89%, immediate oxygen supplementation is necessary to improve tissue oxygenation and prevent hypoxia-related complications. Administering oxygen by nasal cannula is the most appropriate and timely action to increase oxygen delivery.

D. Monitor blood glucose levels:Blood glucose monitoring is important, especially in a diabetic patient with infection, but it does not address the respiratory compromise. It is a priority for metabolic management, not for improving oxygenation directly.

A. Change the chest tube drainage system:Changing the entire drainage system is not warranted for intermittent bubbling in the water seal chamber. This action is appropriate for malfunctioning systems or when there is a significant system compromise such as contamination or leakage.

B. Document the findings:Intermittent bubbling in the water seal chamber is an expected finding during active pneumothorax as air escapes from the pleural space. This indicates that the chest tube is functioning, and documenting the observation is the appropriate action.

C. Check for an air leak:Continuous, not intermittent, bubbling may indicate an air leak. Intermittent bubbling usually occurs during expiration or coughing and does not require investigation unless it becomes continuous or excessive.

D. Notify the health care provider:There is no immediate need to notify the provider for expected intermittent bubbling. This is a normal finding in some phases of pneumothorax resolution and does not indicate a complication requiring urgent intervention.