A 53-year-old male patient with deep partial-thickness burns from a chemical spill in the workplace has severe pain followed by nausea during dressing changes.
Which action will be most useful in decreasing the patient's nausea?
Give the prescribed prochlorperazine before dressing changes.
Keep the patient NPO for 2 hours before dressing changes.
Avoid performing dressing changes close to the patient's mealtimes.
Administer prescribed morphine sulfate before dressing changes.
The Correct Answer is A
Prochlorperazine is an antiemetic medication that is commonly used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by various conditions, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Giving the medication before the dressing changes, can prevent or minimize the onset of nausea and vomiting, which can be triggered by the pain and anxiety associated with the procedure.
Option B, keeping the patient NPO (nothing by mouth) for 2 hours before dressing changes, may be helpful in reducing the risk of aspiration if the patient needs sedation or general anesthesia for the procedure. However, it is not directly related to reducing the patient's nausea.
Option C, avoiding performing dressing changes close to the patient's mealtimes, may help reduce the risk of nausea caused by an overly full stomach, but it is not directly related to reducing the patient's nausea during the procedure.
Option D, administering prescribed morphine sulfate before dressing changes, may help reduce the patient's pain during the procedure, but it may also increase the risk of nausea and vomiting as a side effect. Therefore, this option may not be the most useful in decreasing the patient's nausea.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
This is because the persistent dysuria suggests that the initial treatment was not effective, and there may be a possibility of a resistant organism. Obtaining a midstream urine specimen for culture and sensitivity testing will help identify the specific microorganism causing the infection and determine the most effective antibiotic to use. The nurse should also instruct the patient to continue to drink plenty of fluids, as this will help flush out the bacteria and relieve symptoms. The nurse may suggest the use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) to relieve discomfort, but this should not be the only action taken, as treating the underlying infection is crucial. The nurse should not tell the patient to take trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole for an additional three days, as the initial treatment was not effective, and a different course of treatment may be required based on the results of the urine culture and sensitivity testing.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
The nurse should suggest the patient lie on the side, flexing the right leg². This position may help relieve pain and reduce tension in the abdominal muscles¹. Palpating the abdomen for rebound tenderness (a) may cause pain and should be avoided¹. Assisting the patient to cough and deep breathe (c) may be helpful for respiratory issues but not for abdominal pain¹. Encouraging the patient to sip clear, non-carbonated liquids (d) may be helpful for hydration but does not address the abdominal pain¹.
Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.
Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today