A nurse is assisting in the care of a client who is experiencing a postpartum hemorrhage.

Which of the following medications should the nurse plan to administer?

The correct answer is a. Call EMS if a seizure lasts 5 minutes or more.

Explanation:

When providing home care instructions for a child with a seizure disorder, it is important to educate the parents about appropriate actions during a seizure. Calling emergency medical services (EMS) if a seizure lasts 5 minutes or more is crucial because it may indicate a condition called status epilepticus, which is a prolonged seizure or a series of seizures without full recovery of consciousness between them. Status epilepticus is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical intervention.

Option b, restraining the child at the onset of a seizure, is not recommended. Restraint can potentially cause harm to the child and increase the risk of injury. It is advised to create a safe environment by removing any nearby objects that could cause injury and placing a pillow or cushion under the child's head to prevent head injury.

Option c, offering the child a bubble bath every evening, is not specifically related to seizure management. Bathing routines can be continued as long as they are safe and supervised. However, it is important to ensure the child's safety during bathing, such as providing adequate supervision to prevent drowning or injury.

Option d, placing the child in a prone position during a seizure, is not recommended. Placing the child in a prone position (face down) during a seizure can obstruct the airway and increase the risk of respiratory complications. The child should be placed on their side, in a recovery position, to facilitate drainage of saliva or other fluids and prevent choking.

Overall, the most important instruction for the parents is to recognize the signs of prolonged seizure activity and to seek immediate medical assistance by calling EMS if a seizure lasts 5 minutes or more.

Answer: A. Apply light pressure to the inner canthus just after instilling the eye drops.

Rationale:

A) Apply light pressure to the inner canthus just after instilling the eye drops.
Applying pressure to the inner canthus (the corner of the eye nearest the nose) helps occlude the nasolacrimal duct. This action reduces the systemic absorption of the medication by preventing it from draining into the nasal passages and subsequently into the systemic circulation, thus enhancing the local effect of the eye drops.

B) Wipe the eye from the inner to the outer canthus with a sterile saline-moistened cotton ball.
While this action may help remove excess medication or discharge, it does not minimize systemic absorption. Instead, wiping the eye could inadvertently spread the medication to other areas, increasing the chance of absorption rather than reducing it.

C) Administer the medication drops directly into the lower conjunctival sac of each eye.
While placing drops in the lower conjunctival sac is a standard practice for delivering ophthalmic medications, it does not directly influence systemic absorption. The main goal is to ensure adequate dosing in the eye, but systemic absorption can still occur if the drops drain into the nasolacrimal duct.

D) Wait 5 min after instillation before instilling the drops in the other eye.
Waiting between instillations is good practice to prevent dilution of the first dose and to allow for absorption. However, this action does not significantly impact systemic absorption. It focuses more on ensuring that the first dose is effective before administering a second dose.