The nurse requests a meal tray for a client who follows Mormon beliefs and who is on a clear liquid diet following abdominal surgery.
Which menu item(s) should the nurse request for this client? (Select all that apply).

Choice A rationale:

Decreasing expiratory flow time is not the appropriate intervention in this case. The client's pH and PaCO2 levels suggest respiratory acidosis, which indicates inadequate ventilation. Increasing expiratory flow time might exacerbate the acidosis by reducing ventilation.

Choice C rationale:

Increasing the rate of ventilation (respiratory rate) is a potential intervention to improve the client's acid-base balance. However, it should be done cautiously and under medical supervision to avoid respiratory alkalosis. It is not the first-line intervention in this scenario.

Choice D rationale:

Increasing the ventilator tidal volume may help improve ventilation, but it should also be done under medical guidance to prevent barotrauma. It is not the initial intervention to address the client's respiratory acidosis.

The correct answer is 21 gtt/min,

To calculate the flow rate (in gtt/min), you can use the following formula: Flow rate (gtt/min) = (Volume to be infused in mL ÷ Time in minutes) × Drop factor (gtt/mL) In this case, the volume to be infused is 1 liter, which is equivalent to 1000 mL. The time for infusion is 12 hours, which is equivalent to 720 minutes. The drop factor is given as 15 gtt/mL. Flow rate (gtt/min) = (1000 mL ÷ 720 min) × 15 gtt/mL = (1.39 gtt/min) × 15 gtt/mL ≈ 20.83 gtt/min Rounded to the nearest whole number, the nurse should regulate the infusion at 21 gtt/min.