A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching with the parents of an infant who has a prescription for home oxygen and pulse oximetry monitoring. Which of the following statements by the parents indicates a need for further teaching?

Choice A reason: Shaking the inhaler well before using it is a correct action for the client to take, as it helps to mix the medication and the propellant. However, it is not the best answer, as it is a general instruction that applies to most inhalers, not a specific one that indicates an understanding of the teaching.

Choice B reason: Holding the breath for 10 seconds after inhaling the medication is a correct action for the client to take, as it helps to keep the medication in the lungs and improve its absorption. However, it is not the best answer, as it is a general instruction that applies to most inhalers, not a specific one that indicates an understanding of the teaching.

Choice C reason: Rinsing the mouth with water after using the inhaler is the best answer, as it indicates an understanding of the teaching. Rinsing the mouth with water helps to prevent oral thrush, a fungal infection that can occur as a side effect of some inhalers, especially those that contain steroids.

Choice D reason: Waiting 30 seconds between each puff of the inhaler is not a correct action for the client to take, as it can reduce the effectiveness of the medication. The client should wait at least one minute between each puff of the inhaler, unless instructed otherwise by the provider.

Choice A: Taking the client to the bathroom every 2 hours while awake is not an effective strategy for bowel training. This may disrupt the client's natural bowel rhythm and cause unnecessary stress and frustration. Bowel training aims to establish a regular and predictable time for elimination, not a frequent and arbitrary one¹².
Choice B: Taking the client to the bathroom when they have the urge to defecate is the best option for bowel training. This helps the client to respond to their body's signals and avoid suppressing or delaying the urge. It also reinforces the association between the urge and the act of defecation, which can improve bowel control and prevent constipation¹².
Choice C: Taking the client to the bathroom immediately before meals is not a good idea for bowel training. This may interfere with the client's appetite and digestion, as well as their social and emotional well-being. Bowel training should not be associated with negative or unpleasant feelings. Moreover, eating stimulates the gastrocolic reflex, which increases the motility of the colon and the likelihood of having a bowel movement after a meal¹³.
Choice D: Taking the client to the bathroom after they feel abdominal cramping is not a reliable method for bowel training. Abdominal cramping may indicate various conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerance, infection, or inflammation. It may not always be related to the need to defecate. Waiting for cramping to occur may also delay the evacuation and worsen the symptoms¹³.