The nurse is administering a controlled substance that falls into the category of Schedule I. Which of the following displays the appropriate abuse potential for Schedule I drugs?

A: Lowering the head of the client’s bed is not appropriate in this situation. It does not address the safety concern related to swallowing.

B: Checking the client’s gag reflex is the correct action. This ensures that the client can safely swallow ice chips without the risk of aspiration.

C: Removing the client’s peripheral IV is not related to the request for ice chips and is unnecessary unless there is a specific reason to do so.

D: Checking the client for bladder distention is not relevant to the request for ice chips and does not address the immediate concern of safe swallowing.

A: Auscultation, or listening for air injected into the tube, is not a reliable method for verifying feeding tube placement. It can lead to false positives and does not confirm the tube’s location accurately.

B: X-ray is the gold standard for verifying feeding tube placement. It provides a clear image of the tube’s position, ensuring it is correctly placed in the stomach or small intestine, reducing the risk of complications.

C: Aspiration of contents can help verify placement by checking the appearance and pH of the aspirate. However, it is not as definitive as an X-ray and can sometimes be inconclusive.

D: pH testing of aspirate can indicate whether the tube is in the stomach (acidic pH) or intestines (less acidic). While useful, it is not as reliable as an X-ray for confirming placement.