A nurse in a long-term care facility is planning care for several clients. Which of the following activities should the nurse delegate to the licensed practical nurse (LPN)?

Choice A rationale:

Encouraging the client to ambulate frequently is important for preventing complications associated with immobility, such as deep vein thrombosis and muscle atrophy. However, it is not a direct intervention for promoting the thinning of respiratory secretions.

Choice B rationale:

Encouraging the client to increase fluid intake is a valuable intervention to help thin respiratory secretions. However, the most effective method mentioned here is the use of the incentive spirometer, which directly assists the client in taking deep breaths and enhancing lung function.

Choice C rationale:

Encouraging regular use of the incentive spirometer is a crucial intervention for promoting the thinning of respiratory secretions. Incentive spirometry helps prevent atelectasis (collapse of lung tissue) and promotes deep breathing, which aids in clearing secretions and maintaining lung health.

Choice D rationale:

Encouraging coughing and deep breathing is generally important for maintaining lung health and preventing complications like pneumonia. However, the specific action of using the incentive spirometer is more targeted and effective for promoting respiratory secretion clearance in clients with pneumonia.

Choice A rationale:

Intramuscular administration involves injecting medication into muscle tissue, which may result in slower and variable absorption rates. It is not the optimal route for providing fast and complete absorption of Furosemide.

Choice B rationale:

Subcutaneous administration delivers medication into the fatty tissue beneath the skin. While it can be used for some medications, it generally results in slower absorption compared to intravenous administration, and it may not be suitable for Furosemide, which requires rapid action in a severe heart failure situation.

Choice C rationale:

Oral administration involves taking medication by mouth, and the absorption process can be influenced by factors such as gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit time. In an urgent scenario of severe heart failure, oral administration might be too slow and unpredictable.

Choice D rationale:

Intravenous administration allows for the fastest and most complete absorption of Furosemide. By directly delivering the medication into the bloodstream, it bypasses the absorption barriers of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to rapid onset of action and predictable effects, which is crucial in managing acute heart failure. This route is commonly used in critical situations where immediate therapeutic effects are needed.