When administering oral iron supplements to a client with anemia, which nursing action is most important to ensure optimal absorption of the medication?
Crush the iron supplement and mix it with applesauce.
Administer the iron supplement with a glass of milk.
Discontinue and contact provider if client's stools become a tarry green color.
Administer the iron supplement with a vitamin C-rich drink.
The Correct Answer is D
A. Crushing iron supplements and mixing them with applesauce may make the medication easier to take, but it does not directly improve absorption. In fact, crushing tablets could alter the formulation and absorption, especially if the iron supplement is enteric-coated.
B. Administering iron with a glass of milk can actually inhibit absorption because calcium, which is found in milk, can interfere with the absorption of iron.
C. While tarry green stools are a common side effect of iron supplements, this is not a reason to discontinue the medication unless instructed by the healthcare provider.
D. This is the correct answer. Vitamin C enhances the absorption of iron. Administering the supplement with a vitamin C-rich drink, such as orange juice, helps maximize iron absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. This is the correct answer. Hirschsprung's disease causes a lack of nerve cells in the colon, leading to difficulty with bowel movement. The result is constipation and the passage of small, ribbon-like stools due to the narrowed areas of the colon. The stool can also be foul-smelling.
B. "Currant jelly" stool is typically associated with intussusception, not Hirschsprung's disease. This stool appears red and mucus-like and suggests a bowel obstruction or infection.
C. Foul-smelling, fatty stools (steatorrhea) are characteristic of malabsorption disorders like cystic fibrosis, not Hirschsprung's disease.
D. Mucoid, bloody diarrhea is more common in conditions like infectious colitis or inflammatory bowel disease, not Hirschsprung's disease.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Keep the infant supine is incorrect. After cleft palate repair, it is generally recommended to keep the infant in a position that minimizes pressure on the surgical site. Keeping the infant in a supine position may cause pressure on the repaired area, so side or semi-prone positioning is preferred.
B. Suction the mouth with an oral suction tube is incorrect. Suctioning should be avoided unless absolutely necessary because it can irritate the surgical site and cause trauma to the newly repaired palate.
C. Apply elbow restraints and release them periodically is correct. Elbow restraints are commonly used after cleft palate surgery to prevent the infant from touching or putting pressure on the surgical site. These restraints should be periodically released to allow for movement and prevent skin breakdown.
D. Feed the infant with a spoon for 48 hours is incorrect. After cleft palate repair, feeding should be done carefully. Special feeding bottles or cups are typically used to avoid trauma to the surgical site. Feeding with a spoon may cause pressure on the repair and should be avoided.
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