A hospitalized patient who is diabetic received 38 U of NPH insulin at 7:00 AM. At 1:00 PM, the patient was away from the nursing unit for 2 hours, missing the lunch delivery while awaiting a chest x-ray.
What is the best action by the nurse to prevent hypoglycemia?
Request that if testing is further delayed, the patient will eat lunch first.
Send a glass of orange juice to the patient in the diagnostic testing area.
Save the lunch tray for the patient's later return.
Plan to discontinue the evening dose of insulin.
The Correct Answer is B
The patient received 38 U of NPH insulin at 7:00 AM, and by 1:00 PM, the insulin has been active for approximately 6 hours. The patient has missed lunch, which may lead to hypoglycemia, especially with the activity of the insulin.
Sending a glass of orange juice will provide the patient with a quick source of glucose to prevent hypoglycemia. If testing is further delayed, the nurse may request that the patient be allowed to eat lunch first or save the lunch tray for later, but immediate intervention is necessary to prevent hypoglycemia. Discontinuing the evening dose of insulin is not an appropriate action and should not be considered without consulting the healthcare provider.

Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
"Coffee-ground" emesis is a term used to describe vomit that has the appearance of coffee grounds, which indicates that the vomit contains partially digested blood. This is a serious symptom that could be indicative of an upper gastrointestinal bleed. An endoscopy is a diagnostic test that allows healthcare providers to visually examine the upper gastrointestinal tract and identify the source of bleeding.
Barium studies and angiography are not typically used to diagnose upper gastrointestinal bleeds. Gastric analysis may be useful in other diagnostic situations, but it is not the most appropriate test for a patient with "coffee-ground" emesis.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
The correct action for the nurse to take first when preparing to teach a newly diagnosed 43-year-old man with type 2 diabetes home management of the disease is to assess the patient's perception of what it means to have diabetes. This will help the nurse to identify any misconceptions or fears the patient may have about the condition, and tailor the education to meet the patient's specific needs. Options A, C, and D are important components of diabetes education but can be addressed after the nurse has assessed the patient's perception of the disease.
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