A client who was discharged 3 days ago after an exploratory laparoscopic biopsy is admitted to the hospital with a warm, tender, reddened, and swollen left lower leg. The nurse is preparing to initiate heparin therapy. Which additional intervention should the nurse include in this client's plan of care?

A. Obtain blood glucose level: The first step is to check the client’s blood glucose so the correct insulin dose can be determined according to the sliding scale prescription. Without this value, safe and accurate dosing cannot be achieved.

B. Draw insulin into insulin syringe: After verifying the prescription, the correct amount of insulin is drawn up. This ensures accuracy and avoids delays once the injection site has been prepared, maintaining sterility and efficiency.

C. Verify the insulin prescription: Before drawing up the insulin, the nurse or client must compare the blood glucose result with the sliding scale prescription to determine the exact dose required. This prevents medication errors and ensures correct administration.

D. Cleanse the selected site: The last step before injection is cleansing the skin with an alcohol swab. This minimizes infection risk and prepares the area for insulin administration after the correct dose has been measured.

Rationale for correct choices:

• Pain: The client reports a pain level of 10/10 in the left arm, described as sharp and constant. Pain at this severity requires urgent management because uncontrolled pain can impair mobility. Immediate intervention for pain ensures comfort and supports further diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

• Compartment syndrome: Findings of swelling, decreased sensation, coolness of the skin, and diminished left radial pulse suggest compromised circulation. These are classic warning signs of compartment syndrome, a limb-threatening complication caused by increased pressure within a muscle compartment.

Rationale for incorrect choices:

• Mobility: While the client’s long-term recovery will require mobility interventions, it is not the immediate priority in the acute emergency setting. Pain and neurovascular compromise take precedence over mobility at this stage because they directly affect safety and circulation.

• Swelling: Swelling is a significant concern, but it is a symptom rather than the priority need. Addressing pain and preventing complications such as compartment syndrome will indirectly reduce swelling by improving circulation and managing tissue injury.

• Venous thromboembolism: The client’s high BMI and reduced mobility put him at risk for VTE, but this is a longer-term complication. It does not outweigh the immediate need to manage severe pain and monitor for compartment syndrome, which can cause rapid tissue necrosis.

• Fat embolism syndrome: Fat embolism is a possible complication of long bone fractures, but there is no evidence here of a femoral fracture or respiratory distress. Although his weight and orthopedic history are risk factors, the current findings point more strongly toward compartment syndrome.