The nurse is providing discharge education to a patient with iron deficiency anemia. The patient has been prescribed to take an oral iron supplement. What will the nurse include in the teaching for this patient? (Select All That Apply)

Choice A reason: Encouraging the patient to rest in bed for most of the day may lead to further deconditioning and muscle weakness. While rest is important, balancing activity and rest is more beneficial for managing fatigue in chronic anemia.

Choice B reason: Administering a high-protein diet including caffeinated beverages to increase energy levels is not recommended. While a high-protein diet can support energy and muscle strength, caffeine may cause jitteriness and disrupt sleep, which can exacerbate fatigue.

Choice C reason: Assisting the patient with ADLs and encouraging frequent rest periods is appropriate for managing fatigue, weakness, and activity intolerance in chronic anemia. This approach helps the patient conserve energy while maintaining some level of activity to prevent deconditioning.

Choice D reason: Providing supplemental oxygen via face mask during vigorous exercises is not appropriate. Patients with chronic anemia should avoid vigorous exercises that could exacerbate fatigue and weakness. The focus should be on moderate, manageable activities with adequate rest.

Choice A reason: Monitoring the patient's absolute neutrophil count (ANC) daily and stopping medication when the ANC is greater than 20,000 cells/uL is an essential aspect of using filgrastim safely. However, this is typically managed by the healthcare provider and not the primary action for the nurse to take for patient education. The nurse's role focuses more on educating the patient about potential side effects and self-care.

Choice B reason: Teaching the patient how to administer the medication via intramuscular is not relevant for filgrastim, as it is typically administered via subcutaneous injection. Proper administration technique is crucial for ensuring the medication's effectiveness, but this choice does not accurately reflect the standard administration method for filgrastim.

Choice C reason: Ensuring the patient understands the risk of bone pain and how to manage it is crucial for promoting safe and effective use of filgrastim. Bone pain is a common side effect of filgrastim due to the stimulation of bone marrow to produce more neutrophils. Educating the patient about this potential side effect and providing strategies for managing the pain, such as using over-the-counter pain relievers, helps improve patient comfort and adherence to the medication.

Choice D reason: Administering filgrastim as needed for symptoms of infection is not appropriate. Filgrastim is used to stimulate neutrophil production and prevent infection, rather than treating active infections. The medication should be administered according to the prescribed schedule, not based on the presence of infection symptoms.