The single mother of a child with a head injury is sitting at the child's bedside crying when the practical nurse (PN) enters the room. The mother states, "Why did this happen to my child? I just can't cope with this." What is the best initial response by the PN?

A. 1400: Administering the medication at 1400 would be too late for the lunchtime dose. “Before meals” typically means 30 minutes prior to eating, allowing the drug to take effect before food intake.

B. 1600: Giving the evening dose at 1600 is appropriate because it is about 1 hour before the dinner tray arrives at 1700. This timing allows optimal absorption and therapeutic action before food consumption.

C. 1800: Administering the medication after the meal at 1800 would not meet the “before meals” instruction. Post-meal dosing can alter absorption and reduce the medication’s intended effect.

D. 1700: Giving the medication at the same time as the meal does not allow the drug to act as intended. “Before meals” dosing is meant to precede food intake, typically by 30 minutes.

E. 0800: The breakfast tray arrives at 0900, so administering the first dose at 0800 aligns with the prescribed “before meals” schedule, ensuring proper timing for absorption and effect.

F. 1100: Since lunch is served at 1200, administering the medication at 1100 allows adequate time before eating for the drug to act effectively, fulfilling the prescription requirement.

A. Encourage the newly hired PN to continue with the skill by gently snapping the ampule open: Encouraging continuation without correcting improper technique can lead to glass injury or contamination of the medication.

B. Call the charge nurse to the medication: Involving the charge nurse may be necessary if an incident occurs, but it is not the first action in this case. Immediate, direct correction of unsafe technique is within the observing PN’s responsibility to prevent harm and ensure proper aseptic practice.

C. Advise the newly hired PN to reposition the ampule: The safest initial action is to instruct the new PN to reposition the ampule correctly, typically by using a protective gauze or alcohol swab and snapping it away from the body. This prevents cuts from glass shards and maintains sterile handling of the solution.

D. Take the ampule from the newly hired PN: Physically taking the ampule could startle the new PN, increasing the risk of breakage or injury. Providing calm verbal instruction to correct the position is safer and promotes learning through guided supervision.