A nurse is preparing to administer amoxicillin 2 g/day PO divided into two doses. The amount available is amoxicillin 500 mg tablets.

How many tablets should the nurse administer with each dose? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

Choice A reason: Encouraging coughing and deep breathing is important for postoperative care to prevent complications such as atelectasis and pneumonia. However, with an oxygen saturation of 85%, the immediate priority is to address the client’s hypoxemia. Once oxygen levels are stabilized, coughing and deep breathing exercises can be encouraged.

Choice B reason: Elevating the client to a high Fowler’s position can help improve lung expansion and ease breathing. While this is a beneficial intervention, it is not the first priority when the client’s oxygen saturation is critically low. Administering oxygen should be the initial step to quickly improve oxygenation.

Choice C reason: Administering prescribed analgesic medication is essential for managing the client’s pain, which can also help improve breathing patterns. However, pain management should follow the immediate correction of hypoxemia. Ensuring adequate oxygenation takes precedence over pain relief in this scenario.

Choice D reason: Administering oxygen at 2 L/min is the first action the nurse should take. With an oxygen saturation of 85%, the client is experiencing significant hypoxemia, which needs to be corrected promptly to prevent further complications. Oxygen therapy will help increase the oxygen levels in the blood and improve the client’s overall condition.

Choice A Reason:

Repeating auscultation after asking the client to take a deep breath and cough is the first intervention the nurse should take. This action helps to clear any secretions or mucus that might be causing the crackles. If the crackles persist after the client coughs, it indicates that the sounds are likely due to fluid in the lungs, which requires further assessment and intervention. This step ensures that the nurse accurately identifies the cause of the crackles before proceeding with other interventions.

Choice B Reason:

Instructing the client to limit fluid intake to less than 2,000 mL/day might be appropriate in cases of fluid overload or heart failure, but it is not the first intervention. The nurse needs to confirm the cause of the crackles before making any recommendations about fluid intake. Limiting fluid intake without proper assessment could lead to dehydration and other complications.

Choice C Reason:

Placing the client on bed rest in semi-Fowler’s position can help improve lung expansion and oxygenation by reducing pressure on the diaphragm. However, this is not the first intervention. The nurse should first determine if the crackles are due to secretions that can be cleared by coughing. Semi-Fowler’s position is beneficial for patients with respiratory distress, but it does not address the immediate need to reassess lung sounds.

Choice D Reason:

Preparing to administer antibiotics is not the first intervention. Antibiotics are used to treat infections, and the nurse needs to confirm whether the crackles are due to an infection or another cause before administering medication. Immediate administration of antibiotics without proper assessment could lead to inappropriate treatment and antibiotic resistance.