The nurse has administered an antacid and a proton pump inhibitor for GERD. Which data would indicate to the nurse that the medications are effective?

A. Cycloplegic drugs are used to paralyze the ciliary muscle and dilate the pupil, typically in specific situations such as during examinations or for certain conditions, but they do not facilitate the administration of antibiotic drops.
B. While alternating medications is sometimes done, in this case, both medications are to be given every 4 hours, not every 2 hours. Alternating them every 2 hours would not allow for the correct administration schedule and could lead to unnecessary confusion or overdose.
C. When administering multiple eye drops, it is generally recommended to wait about 5 to 10 minutes between the different drops to allow for proper absorption and prevent the first drop from being washed out by the second.
D. While both medications can be prescribed for a patient, they cannot be administered simultaneously. Using both drops at the same time would result in one medication washing out the other, which would reduce their effectiveness. They need to be given sequentially with appropriate timing in between.

A. Apnea refers to a temporary cessation of breathing. If a patient is experiencing apnea, there would be a complete stop in respiratory activity, which does not apply to a respiratory rate of 36 breaths per minute.
B. Tachypnea is defined as an increased respiratory rate, typically greater than 20 breaths per minute in adults. A respiratory rate of 36 breaths per minute falls well within this range, indicating that the patient is experiencing tachypnea.
C. Bradypnea refers to a decreased respiratory rate, usually defined as fewer than 12 breaths per minute. Since the patient’s rate is 36 breaths per minute, this option does not apply.
D. Orthopnea refers to difficulty breathing when lying flat and is not specifically related to the respiratory rate itself. It usually describes a positional dyspnea rather than a numerical measurement of breathing.