A 6-year-old female client who was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) comes to the clinic with anorexia, drowsiness, and polydipsia. Her parents report frequent urination and bedwetting episodes almost nightly. Which action should the practical nurse (PN) take?
Obtain a serum glucose level.
Offer age-appropriate toys.
Suggest diapers for bedtime use.
Bring orange juice and crackers.
The Correct Answer is A
The practical nurse (PN) should obtain a serum glucose level to assess the client's blood sugar level, which can help to determine if the client is experiencing hyperglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Anorexia, drowsiness, and polydipsia, along with the reported frequent urination and bedwetting, are symptoms of hyperglycemia or DKA.
Offering age-appropriate toys (B) or suggesting diapers for bedtime use (C) are not appropriate actions for the PN to take in this situation.
Bringing orange juice and crackers (D) may help to increase the client's blood sugar level in the short term, but it does not address the underlying issue and may exacerbate the client's symptoms if she is experiencing hyperglycemia or DKA.
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The newborn assessment finding that the practical nurse (PN) should report to the charge nurse immediately for a 24-hour-old infant is a heart rate of 100 beats/minute. The normal heart rate for a newborn is between 120-160 beats/minute. A heart rate of 100 beats/minute is below the normal range and may indicate a problem such as hypothermia or an infection. The PN should report this finding to the charge nurse immediately so that appropriate action can be taken to address the issue. The other assessment findings listed may also be important to monitor, but a heart rate of 100 beats/minute is the most urgent and requires immediate attention.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Restlessness, confusion, and agitation are common symptoms of dementia, particularly in the evening, a phenomenon known as sundowning. Therefore, the PN should implement interventions that can help to prevent or minimize these symptoms. Assigning the client to a room close to the nurses' station can help to provide constant observation and reassurance and can help to prevent the client from wandering or becoming disoriented.
A. Delaying administration of nighttime medications until after visitors have left may be appropriate, but it is not the first intervention to be implemented in this scenario.
B. Administering a prescribed PRN benzodiazepine at the onset of a confused state may be appropriate in some cases, but it should not be the first intervention to be implemented in this scenario.
D. Asking family members about how they dealt with the client in the evening may be helpful, but it is not the first intervention to be implemented in this scenario.
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