Question

An infant with Tetralogy of Fallot is discharged with a prescription for lanoxin elixir. The nurse should instruct the mother to: A. Administer the medication using a nipple B. Administer the medication using the calibrated dropper in the bottle C. Administer the medication using a plastic baby spoon D. Administer the medication in a baby bottle with \(10 z\). of water

Short answer

Answer: The nurse should instruct the mother to administer the lanoxin elixir using the calibrated dropper in the bottle. This method ensures accurate dosing and is suitable for administering medication in an infant with heart conditions like Tetralogy of Fallot.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the medical condition and the medication

Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect affecting the flow of blood within the heart. Lanoxin elixir is a medication that helps to improve the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. It is essential to administer this medication correctly for maximum effectiveness and to avoid complications.

Analyzing the given options

We have four options to choose from: A. Administer the medication using a nipple B. Administer the medication using the calibrated dropper in the bottle C. Administer the medication using a plastic baby spoon D. Administer the medication in a baby bottle with \(10 \: oz\). of water

Disregarding option A

Administering medication with a nipple may not be suitable for infants with Tetralogy of Fallot, as the infant might have difficulty swallowing due to the heart condition. Moreover, it may make it hard to measure the correct dosage. So, we can disregard option A.

Disregarding option C

While it's possible to use a plastic baby spoon to administer medication, it would be challenging to measure an accurate dosage with a regular spoon. Accurate dosing is crucial when administering heart medications like Lanoxin elixir. So we can disregard option C.

Disregarding option D

Administering the medication in a baby bottle with \(10\: oz\). of water is not recommended because it can dilute the medication. Also, there's no guarantee that the baby will drink the entire bottle, causing the baby to receive less than the intended dose. So we can disregard option D.

Choosing the correct answer

By process of elimination, the correct answer is option B: Administer the medication using the calibrated dropper in the bottle. A calibrated dropper guarantees accurate dosing and is suitable for administering medication in an infant with heart conditions like Tetralogy of Fallot.