What information should the nurse include in a teaching plan for a patient who is being discharged home after knee surgery with a prescription for hydrocodone? Select All That Apply

A. Call the health care provider immediately to change the medication to oral.

Changing the medication to oral may not address the immediate issue of the burning sensation and feeling of heat at the IV site. This option focuses on changing the route of administration rather than addressing the current discomfort.

B. Continue the infusion and reassure the patient.

Continuing the infusion without addressing the patient's discomfort could lead to potential complications, and it is important to prioritize patient comfort and safety. Reassurance alone may not be sufficient if there is an issue with the IV site.

C. Flush the line with 10 mL of normal saline and continue the infusion.

While flushing the line with normal saline is a good practice to ensure patency, it may not resolve the issue if there is ongoing irritation or infiltration at the site. Continuing the infusion without addressing the patient's complaint might lead to further discomfort.

D. Discontinue the IV and restart the IV infusion in a different site.

This is the best action. Discontinuing the IV allows the nurse to assess the current site for signs of infiltration or irritation. Restarting the IV in a different site addresses the immediate issue, ensuring that the medication is delivered safely and effectively.

To calculate the amount of solution needed for each dose, we need to use the formula:

Amount of solution (mL) = Dose (mg) / Concentration (mg/mL)

Plugging in the given values, we get:

Amount of solution (mL) = 50 mg / 20 mg/mL

Simplifying, we get:

Amount of solution (mL) = 2.5 mL

Therefore, the nurse must administer 2.5 mL of the solution for each dose.