Question

The nurse is caring for a client with a respiratory disorder who is attempting to stop smoking. The health care provider has recommended nicotine gum. When reviewing this treatment with the client, the nurse should provide which instruction?

Option 1: Drink water while chewing the gum.
Option 2: Only chew the gum for a maximum of 10 minutes.
Option 3: Hold the gum between the cheek and teeth periodically.
Option 4: Eat a light snack immediately before chewing the gum.

Answer 1

The nurse should instruct the client to hold the nicotine gum between the cheek and teeth periodically.

Step-by-step explanation:

The instruction that the nurse should provide to the client who is using nicotine gum to stop smoking is to hold the gum between the cheek and teeth periodically.

This instruction is important because it allows the nicotine in the gum to be slowly released and absorbed through the buccal mucosa, providing a steady and controlled delivery of nicotine to help with cravings. Chewing the gum continuously or for too long may result in excessive nicotine absorption and side effects, while drinking water or eating a snack immediately before chewing the gum may affect the gum's effectiveness.

Therefore, the nurse should instruct the client to hold the gum between the cheek and teeth periodically to optimize the therapeutic benefits of nicotine gum for smoking cessation.