The nurse receives an order to administer ranitidine 300 mg IVPB over one hour.

Ranitidine is available 300 mg in 100 mL NSS.

The drip factor of the piggyback tubing is 15 gtts/mL. How should the nurse infuse the drug in drops/minute? .

Choice A rationale

Flush with 15-30 mL sterile water after each medication. Flushing the gastrostomy tube with sterile water ensures that the medication is fully delivered and prevents clogging of the tube, which is crucial for maintaining its patency.

Choice B rationale

Crush each immediate-release tablet and mix it in 15-30 mL sterile water. Crushing immediate-release tablets and mixing them with sterile water makes it easier to administer through the tube, ensuring that the medication can be properly absorbed by the body.

Choice C rationale

Add medications directly to the tube feeding formula. Adding medications directly to the feeding formula can cause drug-nutrient interactions and may affect the medication's efficacy and absorption, making this practice generally not recommended.

Choice D rationale

Use liquid medications when available. Liquid medications are preferred for tube feedings as they are less likely to cause blockages and are easier to administer and absorb compared to crushed tablets.

Choice E rationale

Mix all medications, dilute with water and give them together. Mixing all medications together can lead to interactions between the drugs, potentially altering their effectiveness and increasing the risk of adverse reactions, making this practice inappropriate.

Choice A rationale

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus. Surgery cannot cure the disease because inflammation and symptoms can recur in other parts of the digestive system, even after the diseased portion is removed.

Choice B rationale

While colonoscopic procedures can help manage and monitor Crohn's disease, they do not cure it. The disease's chronic nature means that continuous treatment and monitoring are necessary.

Choice C rationale

Surgery can help manage severe cases of Crohn's disease and remove affected portions, but it does not cure the disease. There are risks and complications associated with surgery, and the disease can recur in other areas of the gastrointestinal tract.

Choice D rationale

This statement is inaccurate because it suggests a potential cure through surgery, which is misleading. The chronic and recurrent nature of Crohn's disease means that even after surgical intervention, ongoing management and treatment are required.