A nurse working in a mental health facility is caring for a client who is pacing back and forth in the day room while wringing their hands. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Avoid quoting client comments when documenting: This is the correct action to take. When documenting client care, it is important to use objective language and avoid directly quoting client comments. Instead, the nurse should summarize or paraphrase the client's statements using professional and objective language.

Incorrect:

B- Limit documentation to subjective information: This is an incorrect action to take.

Documentation should include both subjective and objective information. Subjective information refers to the client's own experiences, perceptions, and feelings, while objective information refers to measurable and observable data.

C- Document giving a dose of pain medication just prior to administration: This is an incorrect action to take. Documentation should accurately reflect the timing and administration of medications. Documenting giving a dose of pain medication just prior to administration would be inaccurate and could lead to confusion and potential medication errors.

D- Document information telephoned in by a nurse who left the unit for the day: This is an incorrect action to take. Documentation should only include information that the nurse personally witnesses, assesses, or performs. Information provided by another nurse should be documented as a report or handoff communication rather than direct documentation.

Explanation

A. Administer the medication to the toddler each evening.

Montelukast is a long-term control medication used for the management of asthma in both children and adults. It is typically taken once daily in the evening to provide continuous asthma control. Consistency in taking the medication is important to maintain its effectiveness.

Providing an additional dose of the medication prior to physical activity in (option B) is not a standard recommendation for montelukast use. Montelukast is not a rescue medication and does not provide immediate relief for asthma symptoms triggered by physical activity. In such cases, a short-acting bronchodilator medication, such as albuterol, is commonly used prior to physical activity.

Mixing the medication in juice prior to administration in (option C) is not recommended unless specifically instructed by the healthcare provider or indicated in the medication instructions.

Montelukast is available in various formulations, including chewable tablets and granules, which can be taken directly or mixed with certain foods or liquids. However, the specific instructions should be followed as provided by the healthcare provider or medication label.

Administering the medication when the toddler in (option D) has an acute asthma attack is not the intended use of montelukast. Montelukast is a long-term control medication aimed at preventing asthma symptoms and maintaining asthma control over time. For acute asthma attacks, a short-acting bronchodilator medication is typically used.

Therefore, the nurse should instruct the parents to administer the medication to the toddler each evening (option A) as part of the routine, long-term management of asthma.