A nurse is assessing a client who has delirium due to a febrile illness. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

A. "Instill prescribed drops whenever your eyes feel irritated.": Eye drops for glaucoma are prescribed on a strict schedule to maintain consistent intraocular pressure reduction. Administering them only when irritation occurs can lead to ineffective treatment and progression of optic nerve damage.

B. "Apply gentle pressure to the outer corner of your eye following eye drop administration.": The correct technique is to apply gentle pressure to the inner corner (punctal area) of the eye to prevent systemic absorption of the medication. Pressure at the outer corner does not prevent systemic effects and is not recommended.

C. "Place the tip of the container in the lower conjunctival sac to administer.": Eye drops should be placed in the lower conjunctival sac, but the instruction is incomplete without guidance on avoiding contact with the eye surface to prevent contamination. Proper placement technique includes holding the dropper above the sac without touching the eye.

D. "Wait 5 minutes before administering different eye drop medications": Waiting 5 minutes between different eye drops allows adequate absorption and prevents one medication from washing out the other. This practice optimizes therapeutic effects and minimizes interactions between multiple ocular medications.

A. Blurred vision: Blurred vision can occur as a side effect of clozapine due to anticholinergic properties. While it may cause discomfort or temporary visual disturbances, it is not immediately life-threatening and does not require urgent reporting to the provider.

B. Dry mouth: Dry mouth is a common and expected anticholinergic side effect of clozapine. Although it can contribute to dental issues if persistent, it does not indicate a serious or emergent complication and can often be managed with hydration or saliva substitutes.

C. Fever: Fever is the highest priority symptom to report because it can indicate agranulocytosis, a rare but potentially life-threatening side effect of clozapine. Agranulocytosis compromises the immune system, increasing the risk of severe infections, making early detection and intervention critical.

D. Constipation: Constipation is a common side effect due to clozapine’s anticholinergic effects. While it should be monitored and managed to prevent complications such as bowel obstruction, it is not immediately life-threatening compared to signs of infection like fever.