A nurse is assisting in the care of a client who has a fractured femur and is in Buck's traction. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

• Pneumonia: The preschooler is showing signs of shallow breathing, refusal to use the incentive spirometer, and slightly diminished breath sounds in the bilateral lower lobes, all of which increase the risk of developing pneumonia. Postoperative patients, especially young children, are vulnerable to pneumonia due to pain-limited deep breathing and poor pulmonary expansion.
• Wound infection: Although there is some serosanguinous drainage at the incision site, the dressing remains dry overall, and there is no mention of redness, warmth, or purulent discharge typically associated with wound infection. Therefore, wound infection is not the primary concern at this point.
• Ileus: Hypoactive bowel sounds are present, but they have been stable throughout the day without worsening abdominal distension or absence of bowel function. While ileus is a postoperative risk, the more pressing concern given the respiratory findings is pneumonia.
• Shallow breathing: The child consistently shows shallow, unlabored respirations throughout assessments, which indicate limited lung expansion. Without effective use of the incentive spirometer and adequate deep breathing, shallow breathing places the child at high risk for pulmonary complications such as pneumonia.
• Increasing temperature: Although the child's temperature rose slightly by 1600, it remains below 38° C (100.4° F), which is not typically classified as a fever. The minor temperature elevation could be related to inflammation rather than an infectious process at this stage.
• Hypoactive bowel sounds: Hypoactive bowel sounds are expected in the early postoperative period, particularly following abdominal surgery due to the effects of anesthesia and manipulation of the bowel during surgery. While they should be monitored, they are not the primary finding indicating the most urgent complication in this situation.

A. Administer the tablet to the client with applesauce: Administering the tablet with a small amount of soft food like applesauce can help facilitate swallowing without altering the integrity of the enteric coating. This method eases the swallowing process while ensuring the medication is delivered properly.

B. Position the client at a 45-degree angle: Clients who have difficulty swallowing should be positioned in an upright 90-degree sitting position, not at 45 degrees, to reduce the risk of aspiration and promote safer swallowing mechanics.

C. Crush the tablet and mix it in pudding for the client: Enteric-coated tablets should never be crushed, as crushing destroys the protective coating designed to prevent the medication from being released in the stomach, potentially causing irritation or reducing drug effectiveness.

D. Instruct the client to tilt their head back when swallowing: Tilting the head back increases the risk of choking and aspiration, especially in clients with swallowing difficulties. It is safer to encourage tucking the chin slightly down when swallowing to help protect the airway.