A charge nurse planning care for a group of clients is delegating tasks to an assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following tasks should the nurse delegate to the AP?

When reinforcing teaching with a client who has a new prescription for aluminum hydroxide to treat heartburn, the nurse should include constipation as an adverse effect of the medication. Aluminum hydroxide is an antacid commonly used to neutralize stomach acid and provide relief from heartburn and indigestion. However, one of its potential side effects is constipation. Aluminum hydroxide can slow down intestinal motility, leading to infrequent or difficult bowel movements.

Hypertension: Aluminum hydroxide is not known to cause hypertension (high blood pressure). However, clients with pre-existing hypertension should be cautious when using antacids containing sodium bicarbonate, as the sodium content may impact blood pressure levels.

Flatulence: Flatulence (excessive gas) is not a common adverse effect of aluminum hydroxide. It primarily works by neutralizing stomach acid and does not typically cause increased gas production.

Headache: Headache is not commonly reported as an adverse effect of aluminum hydroxide. It is more likely to be associated with other factors such as the underlying condition causing heartburn or individual factors.

Metoclopramide is a medication commonly used to treat gastrointestinal disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). While it is generally well-tolerated, it can have some adverse effects. Sedation is one of the common side effects of metoclopramide. It can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and a feeling of tiredness in some individuals. Therefore, the nurse should monitor the client for any signs of sedation or excessive drowsiness, especially when the client starts taking the medication or when the dose is increased.

Hypertension: Metoclopramide is not known to cause hypertension (high blood pressure) as a common side effect. In fact, it may have a mild hypotensive (blood pressure-lowering) effect in some individuals.

Urinary retention: Metoclopramide does not typically cause urinary retention. Instead, it can enhance gastrointestinal motility and increase the frequency of bowel movements.

Blurred vision: While visual disturbances are rare adverse effects of metoclopramide, blurred vision is not a commonly reported side effect. However, other visual disturbances like oculogyric crisis (involuntary rolling back of the eyes) have been reported in rare cases. Nevertheless, monitoring for blurred vision specifically is not a priority when administering metoclopramide.