A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the guardian of a 1-year-old infant about administering a liquid oral medication. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?
Explanation & Rationale
Choice A rationale: Correct Answer. Placing the medication along the side of the child's tongue is a recommended technique for administering oral medication to infants. This helps prevent the infant from spitting out the medication and encourages swallowing. Placing the medication directly on the center of the tongue might trigger the gag reflex. Choice B rationale: Putting small bits of ice on the child's tongue prior to administering the medication is not a standard technique and is not necessary for giving liquid medication. This could potentially create discomfort for the infant and may not contribute to effective medication administration. Choice C rationale: Positioning the child on their back during administration of the medication is not ideal. This position might increase the risk of choking. Placing the child in an upright or slightly inclined position is generally recommended to aid in swallowing and prevent choking. Choice D rationale: Adding the medication to the child's formula prior to feeding is not advisable without consulting a healthcare provider. Mixing medication with formula can alter the medication's effectiveness or interactions. It's important to administer medications separately from formula to ensure accurate dosing. The correct answer is choice C. Document the infant's respiratory rate every 2 hr. The correct answer is choice D. Adopted. The correct answer is choice A. "You should place the medication along the side of your child's tongue during administration."