A home health nurse is verifying a client's prescribed medications and notes that one medication dose was decreased by half. The client asks the nurse if they can cut the tablets in half. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Rationale:

A. Prime the infusion tubing with 0.45% sodium chloride.: Blood products should never be primed with hypotonic solutions like 0.45% sodium chloride because it can cause hemolysis of the RBCs. Only 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) is safe for priming and flushing blood administration tubing.

B. Assess the client's lung sounds prior to the infusion.: Older adults are at increased risk for fluid overload during transfusions. Assessing lung sounds before starting the infusion provides a baseline and helps detect early signs of pulmonary edema or transfusion-associated circulatory overload.

C. Verify with another nurse that the unit of blood is compatible with the client's blood type.: Performing a second verification with another nurse is a critical safety measure to prevent transfusion reactions. Confirming blood type and crossmatch ensures compatibility and patient safety.

D. Don sterile gloves to prepare the blood administration setup.: Sterile gloves are not required for blood administration. Standard clean technique with non-sterile gloves is sufficient to prevent infection, as the IV setup does not require sterility.

E. Infuse the blood over 4 hr.: Red blood cells should be infused within 4 hours to minimize the risk of bacterial growth and ensure product viability. Infusing too slowly can increase infection risk, and infusing too quickly can cause fluid overload, especially in older adults.

Rationale:

A. Provide 60 mL (2 oz) of fluid intake every 5 min.: Following gastric bypass surgery, the stomach pouch is very small and cannot tolerate large or frequent volumes. Giving 60 mL every 5 minutes places the client at high risk for nausea, vomiting, dumping syndrome, and anastomotic complications. Fluid intake must be introduced slowly in small sips.

B. Ambulate the client 48 hr after the procedure.: Early ambulation is essential to prevent postoperative complications such as atelectasis, venous thromboembolism, and delayed return of bowel function. Waiting 48 hours is too long; clients should begin ambulating on the day of surgery or within the first 24 hours to promote circulation.

C. Provide a soft diet on the first postoperative day.: After gastric bypass surgery, the digestive system needs time to heal and cannot tolerate solid or semi-solid foods. Clients begin with clear liquids and progress gradually to pureed, soft, and then solid diets over several weeks.

D. Measure and compare abdominal girth daily.: Monitoring abdominal girth helps detect postoperative complications such as internal bleeding, leaks, or ileus, which may present with distention or increased abdominal size. Regular measurement provides early recognition of changes that require prompt intervention.