The nurse is administering sucralfate to a client with stomatitis secondary to chemotherapy. The client wants to take the medication after breakfast. How should the nurse respond?

Rationale: A. Document the client's refusal of the medication at this time: Simply documenting refusal does not address the teaching need. The client requires education about when the drug should be taken to achieve therapeutic benefit. B. Allow the client to take the medication up to 1 hour after breakfast: Sucralfate works best when taken on an empty stomach before meals, not after. Post-meal administration reduces its protective coating effect on the gastric lining. C. Instruct the client to take it when the meal tray is delivered: Taking sucralfate with food interferes with its ability to bind to ulcerated or irritated mucosa, thereby decreasing its effectiveness. D. Explain the need to take the medication at least 1 hour before meals: Sucralfate coats ulcerated tissue and provides a protective barrier from gastric acid. For maximum benefit, it must be administered on an empty stomach, ideally 1 hour before meals and at bedtime.