A nurse is preparing to administer medication to a child through an enteral tube. Which of the following actions should the nurse take after administering the medication?

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.

c. The toddler can say four words.

Explanation:

The nurse should report to the provider that the toddler can say four words. At 18 months, a toddler typically has a vocabulary of about 6 to 20 words and is beginning to combine words into simple phrases. If the toddler is only able to say four words or has a delay in language development, it could be a cause for concern and warrant further evaluation.

The other options are age-appropriate developmental milestones for an 18-month-old toddler and do not require immediate reporting to the provider. The ability to remove socks, having a security blanket, and throwing a ball without falling are all examples of normal developmental skills for a toddler of this age.