A client presents to the clinic for a postoperative follow-up following surgical repair of a fractured radius.

The client reports their adult child prepares two meals a day for them to eat.

The client's weight is 55.9 kg (123 Ib) and height is 175 cm (69 in). What is the client's BMI?

Condition: Elder maltreatment 2 actions: Initiate a referral to adult protective services; Administer prescribed pain medication 2 parameters: Frequency and severity of bruises; Nutritional intake and weight

Rationale for correct condition The client’s physical signs (multiple bruises in various stages, unclean appearance), social indicators (dependency, financial control, food insecurity), and behavioral changes in the presence of the caregiver strongly suggest elder abuse. Elder maltreatment includes physical, emotional, financial, and neglectful harm. An 82-year-old with a BMI of 18.3 shows undernutrition. His improved demeanor away from the child reflects psychological coercion. Bruises in different stages may indicate repeated trauma over time.

Rationale for correct actions Referral to adult protective services ensures legal and social intervention and facilitates multidisciplinary evaluation for safety. Reporting is mandated and protects the client from further harm. Administering pain medication addresses acute injury (fracture of right radius) and helps restore comfort. Effective pain management is crucial for mobility and assessment of additional injuries.

Rationale for correct parameters Monitoring bruising patterns helps identify ongoing abuse and quantify recovery or new trauma. Repeated injuries in various healing stages are hallmark signs. Nutritional intake and weight reflect neglect; insufficient food intake leads to weight loss and reduced immune function. Tracking BMI and calorie intake can guide long-term recovery and support.

Rationale for incorrect conditions Osteoporosis-related fracture would more likely occur with minimal trauma and does not explain social neglect or emotional signs. Accidental fall may be plausible but lacks explanation for systemic neglect and coercion. Peripheral neuropathy doesn’t explain acute arm pain or psychosocial signs of neglect.

Rationale for incorrect actions Encouraging activity is inappropriate during acute fracture recovery and potential abuse. Bone density scans assess fragility but don’t address safety risks. Nutritional supplements may help but don’t resolve underlying maltreatment or acute injury.

Rationale for incorrect parameters Bone density is not immediately relevant and doesn't reflect maltreatment. Blood pressure fluctuations are not present and don’t indicate abuse. Grip strength cannot be assessed accurately with an arm fracture and isn't useful for abuse evaluation.

Take-home points • Elder maltreatment includes physical harm, neglect, emotional abuse, and financial exploitation • Victims may show improved responsiveness when abuser is absent • Multidisciplinary intervention via adult protective services is critical • Differentiation from accidental injury ensures proper protection and care

Choice A rationale

Chilling the lavage fluid causes vasoconstriction of the gastric blood vessels, which helps to slow or stop the bleeding. The cold temperature directly constricts the capillaries and arterioles in the stomach lining, reducing blood flow to the bleeding site. This action is a primary goal of gastric lavage in cases of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Choice B rationale

Positioning the client on their left side is the appropriate action. This position allows the lavage fluid to pool in the greater curvature of the stomach, where it can be most effective at washing over the bleeding site. Placing the client on their right side would cause the fluid to quickly pass into the duodenum, which is less effective for gastric lavage.

Choice C rationale

Gastric lavage is performed to remove blood and clots from the stomach. The procedure involves instilling a fluid, typically saline, and then withdrawing it. The nurse continues this process, manually withdrawing the fluid, until the return fluid is clear or only slightly pink, which indicates that the bleeding has been controlled or significantly reduced.

Choice D rationale

A large-bore NG tube (16-18 French or larger) is preferred for gastric lavage in cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. A large-bore tube is necessary to effectively remove blood clots and viscous fluid from the stomach. A small-bore tube would easily become occluded by clots, rendering the lavage procedure ineffective. *.