A nurse is assisting in the care of a client who has pneumonia.

Exhibits

The nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching with the client and their caregiver. Which of the following information should the nurse include? Select all that apply.

A. "The lower end of the sling goes below the client's calves." The lower end of the sling should support the thighs and buttocks but typically does not extend below the calves. Positioning the sling incorrectly can cause discomfort or injury during the lift.

B. "The sides of the sling are for the client to hold on to." While some slings have loops for the caregiver to grasp, clients usually do not hold onto the sling sides during the lift, as this could interfere with safe handling and stability.

C. "This type of device is useful for a client who cannot assist." Mechanical lifts are specifically designed to safely transfer clients who have little or no ability to assist with moving. This reduces injury risk for both client and caregiver and ensures safe mobility.

D. "The device requires the client to use upper body strength." Mechanical lifts minimize the need for client effort, especially upper body strength. They are intended for clients unable to bear weight or assist, so reliance on client strength contradicts the device’s purpose.

A. Leave the needle in place for 10 seconds after the injection: Leaving the needle in place for approximately 10 seconds after administering a subcutaneous injection helps ensure full delivery of the medication and reduces the chance of medication leakage at the injection site.

B. Use a 5-inch needle for the injection: A 5-inch needle is excessively long for subcutaneous injections and would likely penetrate muscle tissue, increasing the risk of injury or incorrect medication administration. Subcutaneous injections typically require a needle length between ⅜ and ⅝ inch.

C. Inject the medication using the Z-track technique: The Z-track technique is used for intramuscular injections to minimize medication leakage and reduce irritation. It is not appropriate for subcutaneous injections, which are administered into the fatty layer beneath the skin, not deep muscle tissue.

D. Insert the syringe at a 15° angle during injection: A 15° angle is used for intradermal injections. Subcutaneous injections should be administered at a 45° to 90° angle depending on the client’s body mass to ensure the medication is delivered into the subcutaneous tissue, not the dermis or muscle.