A mother calls the nurse to report that at 0900 she administered an oral dose of digoxin to her 4-month-old infant, but at 0920 the baby vomited the medicine. Which instruction should the nurse provide to this mother?

The correct answer is A, B, C, and D.

Choice A reason: Flushing the gastrostomy tube with water is essential to maintain tube patency and prevent medication interactions. It should be done before and after medication administration. The typical amount of water used for flushing can range from 15 to 30 mL.

Choice B reason: Administering each medication separately is a critical practice to prevent drug interactions and ensure that the full dose of each medication is delivered. It also helps in preventing the clogging of the tube.

Choice C reason: Documenting all liquid volumes, including medications and water used for flushing, is important for accurate fluid intake records. This helps in maintaining fluid balance and monitoring the patient’s hydration status.

Choice D reason: Checking gastric residual volume is important to assess the patient’s tolerance to enteral feeding and to prevent complications such as aspiration. Normal gastric residual volumes are generally considered to be less than 250 mL.

Choice E reason: Using a plunger to administer medications through a gastrostomy tube is not always recommended. Medications should be administered slowly to prevent discomfort or harm, and the use of a plunger is not a standard practice across all healthcare settings.

Choice A reason: This is incorrect because providing a diet low in phosphorus is not indicated for a client with cirrhosis of the liver. Phosphorus restriction is more relevant for clients with renal failure, not liver failure.

Choice B reason: This is correct because noting signs of swelling and edema is an essential intervention for a client with cirrhosis of the liver. Swelling and edema are signs of fluid retention and portal hypertension, which are common complications of liver disease.

Choice C reason: This is incorrect because increasing oral fluid intake to 1,500 mL daily is not advisable for a client with cirrhosis of the liver. Fluid restriction may be necessary to prevent fluid overload and ascites, which are common complications of liver disease.

Choice D reason: This is correct because monitoring abdominal girth is an important intervention for a client with cirrhosis of the liver. Abdominal girth measurement can indicate the presence and severity of ascites, which is a common complication of liver disease.

Choice E reason: This is correct because reporting serum albumin and globulin levels is a vital intervention for a client with cirrhosis of the liver. Serum albumin and globulin levels can reflect the liver's synthetic function and indicate the extent of liver damage.