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: Dry skin is not a sign of respiratory alkalosis. Respiratory alkalosis is a condition where the blood pH is too high due to excessive loss of carbon dioxide through rapid breathing. Dry skin can be caused by dehydration, cold weather, or skin conditions.

Choice B reason: Diarrhea is not a sign of respiratory alkalosis. Diarrhea is a condition where the stool is loose and watery due to increased intestinal motility or infection. Diarrhea can cause metabolic acidosis, which is a condition where the blood pH is too low due to excessive loss of bicarbonate.

Choice C reason: Abdominal pain is not a sign of respiratory alkalosis. Abdominal pain is a symptom that can have many causes, such as gastritis, appendicitis, or irritable bowel syndrome. Abdominal pain can also cause hyperventilation due to anxiety or discomfort, but it is not a direct result of respiratory alkalosis.

Choice D reason: Hyperventilation is a sign of respiratory alkalosis. Hyperventilation is a condition where the breathing rate is faster than normal, causing excess carbon dioxide to be expelled from the lungs. This lowers the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the blood, which increases the blood pH and causes alkalosis. Hyperventilation can be caused by anxiety, fever, pain, or lung diseases.

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.