A nurse is caring for a client who has a fractured leg and rates their pain as 7 on a scale of 0 to 10. Which of the following medications should the nurse expect to administer?

A. Ensure the formula is cold before administration. Enteral formula should be given at room temperature to avoid causing gastrointestinal cramping or discomfort. Cold formula can irritate the GI tract and lead to intolerance.
B. Check placement of the feeding tube by x-ray once daily. An x-ray is used initially to confirm tube placement after insertion, but daily x-rays are not required. Ongoing checks are done through aspirate checks and measuring external tube length.
C. Maintain the head of the client's bed at a 20° angle or higher. The head of the bed should be elevated to at least 30 to 45 degrees to prevent aspiration. A 20° angle is insufficient and increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia.
D. Check gastric residuals every 4 hr. This is appropriate for clients receiving continuous feedings. Monitoring gastric residual volume (GRV) every 4 hours helps assess tolerance to the feeding and reduces the risk of aspiration.
E. Change the feeding container and tubing every 24 hr. To prevent bacterial contamination, the feeding bag and tubing should be changed every 24 hours when using an open system. This is a standard infection control practice.

A. "Blurred vision is an expected adverse effect of this medication." Blurred vision is not a common or expected adverse effect of lithium. If this occurs, it may indicate toxicity or another underlying issue and should be reported. It is not part of routine education for expected side effects.
B. "This medication can cause weight gain." This is true. Weight gain is a known long-term adverse effect of lithium therapy and should be discussed with the client and family as part of monitoring and lifestyle considerations during treatment.
C. "This medication can cause nausea and drowsiness." These are common initial side effects when starting lithium and usually subside over time. Clients should be aware of these effects so they can differentiate between expected reactions and signs of toxicity.
D. "It will take at least a week before this medication reaches a therapeutic level." Correct. Lithium takes 7–14 days to reach therapeutic plasma levels, so clients may not experience symptom relief immediately. During this period, supportive care and safety monitoring are essential.
E. "You will be placed on a low-sodium diet while taking this medication." This is incorrect. Lithium has a narrow therapeutic index, and sodium levels affect lithium levels. A low-sodium diet can increase the risk of lithium toxicity, so clients should maintain a consistent sodium intake, not reduce it.