A nurse is preparing to administer esomeprazole 20 mg IV bolus in 100 mL 5% dextrose in water for a client who has peptic ulcer disease. Available is esomeprazole 40 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse add to the 5% dextrose in water? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

A. Apply lidocaine gel around the incision: Topical lidocaine is generally used for localized superficial pain, not for deep postoperative pain following major joint surgery. Its effectiveness for a knee arthroplasty incision is limited.

B. Attach a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation unit around the incision: TENS units can help with some types of pain but are more effective for chronic musculoskeletal pain rather than acute postoperative pain.

C. Place a cold pack over the incision: Cold therapy reduces inflammation, swelling, and pain in the immediate postoperative period. It is a safe and effective nonpharmacological intervention for mild to moderate pain following knee arthroplasty.

D. Assist the client for a walk in the hallway: Early ambulation is important for preventing complications and promoting recovery, but it may initially increase pain when the client is only 4 hours post-surgery. Cold therapy is more appropriate for immediate pain relief.

Rationale:

A. Inform the client she will need to formula feed her newborn until she has received antibiotics for 24 hr: Most antibiotics used to treat postpartum endometritis are safe for breastfeeding. Temporary formula feeding is not routinely required.

B. Request a prescription for terbutaline from the provider: Terbutaline is a tocolytic used to suppress preterm labor, which is not indicated postpartum. It does not treat infection or uterine complications.

C. Monitor the height and tone of the client's fundus: Assessing the uterus for firmness and position helps detect uterine atony or worsening infection. Changes in fundal height or tone can indicate retained products of conception or hemorrhage.

D. Instruct the client to wash her hands before and after changing her perineal pad: Hand hygiene reduces the risk of introducing or spreading bacteria to the uterus or perineal area, which is critical when postpartum infection is present.

E. Encourage the client to maintain a semi-Fowler's position to enhance uterine drainage: Semi-Fowler’s positioning promotes drainage of lochia, decreases uterine congestion, and supports recovery from endometritis by reducing bacterial proliferation in pooled fluid.

F. Obtain a culture specimen of the lochia from the client's perineal pad using a sterile swab: A culture helps identify the causative organism of endometritis, allowing the provider to tailor antibiotic therapy effectively.

G. Initiate contact precautions: Endometritis is not a highly transmissible condition; standard precautions, including hand hygiene, are sufficient unless another communicable infection is identified.