A nurse is preparing to administer valproate 750 mg PO to an adult client who has bipolar disorder. The client refuses to swallow capsules but consents to swallow an oral solution of the medication. Available is valproate oral solution 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL of valproate should the nurse plan to administer? (Round to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

A. This position, where the client is seated in a semi-upright sitting position, helps to reduce the risk of aspiration and facilitates breathing. It is also conducive to the proper functioning of the nasogastric tube for decompression.
B. Moistening the client's lips is also important for comfort, but it does not directly relate to the management of the nasogastric tube.
C. Sterile water should be used for irrigation only if the tube becomes clogged.
D. Measuring abdominal girth is important but not specific to nasogastric tube care.

A. This instruction is more appropriate for female clients performing perineal hygiene before providing a clean-catch urine specimen. For straight catheterization, the nurse typically performs sterile technique, including cleansing the urethral meatus with an antiseptic solution as part of the procedure. The client's perineal area may be cleansed if necessary, but the primary focus is on maintaining sterile technique during catheter insertion.
B. When performing straight catheterization, the nurse inserts a sterile catheter into the client's bladder via the urethra to obtain urine directly. The urine is collected from the catheter itself as it drains into a sterile specimen container. It's essential to avoid touching the catheter's port or allowing it to come into contact with non-sterile surfaces to prevent contamination.
C. When inserting a Foley catheter (indwelling catheter), sterile water is used to inflate the balloon at the tip of the catheter after insertion into the bladder. For straight catheterization, a balloon is not typically inflated because the catheter is removed immediately after urine is obtained. Therefore, this step is not applicable in this context.
D. It is crucial to use a sterile specimen container to collect urine obtained via straight catheterization. This ensures that the specimen remains uncontaminated and suitable for culture and sensitivity testing, which requires accurate identification of any bacteria present in the urine.