A home health nurse is caring for a child who has Lyme disease. Which of the following is an appropriate action for the nurse to take?

The correct answer is choice C: Document the client’s behavior prior to being placed in seclusion.

Choice A rationale:

Discussing with the client his inappropriate behavior prior to seclusion is important, but it’s not the most appropriate action. The priority is to ensure the safety of the client and others, which can be achieved by documenting the client’s behavior prior to seclusion.

Choice B rationale:

Offering fluids every 2 hours is a good practice to keep the client hydrated, especially if they are agitated or physically active. However, this is not the most appropriate action in this context.

Choice C rationale:

Documenting the client’s behavior prior to being placed in seclusion is the most appropriate action. This documentation is crucial for legal and ethical reasons, and it helps in evaluating the effectiveness of the intervention.

Choice D rationale:

Assessing the client’s behavior once every hour is important to monitor the client’s condition and response to seclusion. However, this is not the most appropriate action in this context.

Valsartan is a medication that lowers blood pressure by blocking the action of angiotensin II, a hormone that causes blood vessels to constrict. By dilating the blood vessels, valsartan reduces the pressure in the arteries and improves blood flow to the organs. However, if the dose of valsartan is too high, it can cause excessive lowering of blood pressure, which can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, blurred vision, or nausea. This is especially likely when the client changes position from lying or sitting to standing, which is called orthostatic hypotension. Therefore, the nurse should monitor the client’s blood pressure and pulse in different positions and report any significant changes to the provider. The nurse should also instruct the client to rise slowly from a lying or sitting position and to avoid driving or operating machinery until the effects of the medication wear off.

Choice A is wrong because monitoring the client’s urine output is not a priority action for a client who received an overdose of valsartan.

Valsartan does not have a direct effect on urine output, although it may affect kidney function in some cases. The nurse should monitor the client’s serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels to assess kidney function, but this is not as urgent as evaluating the client for orthostatic hypotension.

Choice B is wrong because checking the client for nasal congestion is not a priority action for a client who received an overdose of valsartan.

Nasal congestion is not a common or serious side effect of valsartan. It is more likely to occur with other types of blood pressure medications, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or beta blockers.

Choice D is wrong because obtaining the client’s laboratory results is not a priority action for a client who received an overdose of valsartan.

Laboratory results may provide useful information about the client’s electrolyte levels, kidney function, liver function, or blood counts, but they are not as important as assessing the client’s vital signs and symptoms of hypotension. The nurse should obtain the laboratory results after stabilizing the client’s blood pressure and ensuring adequate perfusion to the organs.