Final answer:
When discharging a preschool child with a prescription for amoxicillin/clavulanate suspension, the nurse should teach the parents to shake the bottle well before use, store the medication in the refrigerator, report diarrhea to the provider, and discard unused medication after 21 days.
Step-by-step explanation:
When providing discharge teaching for the parents of a preschool age child who has a new prescription for amoxicillin/clavulanate suspension, the nurse should include the following instructions:
- Shake the medication bottle well before each dose is given to ensure proper suspension of the medication.
- Store the medication in the refrigerator to maintain its effectiveness, unless the specific product label or healthcare provider indicates otherwise.
- Report any incidents of diarrhea to the healthcare provider immediately as it could indicate a possible side effect or secondary infection.
- Discard the unused portion of medication after 21 days, as the efficacy of the drug may decrease after this time period.
Each of these steps is important to make sure the medication is as effective as possible and to monitor for any adverse reactions.