A nurse is administering sucralfate to a client who has a gastric ulcer. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Sucralfate works by forming a protective paste-like coating that adheres to the ulcer site in the stomach. For maximum therapeutic effect, sucralfate should be administered on an empty stomach, typically 1 hour before meals and at bedtime. When food, fluids, or antacids are present, they dilute the medication and prevent it from adhering effectively to the ulcer surface, significantly reducing its efficacy. Administering it without food or fluids allows the drug to reach and coat the ulcer directly. Limiting fluids during sucralfate therapy is not a requirement; the instruction pertains specifically to timing of administration relative to food and antacids, not overall fluid intake. Instructing the client to chew the tablet is incorrect — chewing would break down the formulation before it reaches the stomach, impairing its ability to form the protective gel layer. Administering sucralfate with an antacid is specifically contraindicated because antacids alter gastric pH and can interfere with sucralfate binding to the ulcer surface; antacids should be separated from sucralfate by at least 30 minutes. The correct action is to administer sucralfate on an empty stomach without food, fluids, or concurrent antacids to optimize adherence to the ulcer site.