A new mother on the postpartum unit runs out of the room screaming that her newborn infant's crib is empty and the baby is missing.

Which action should the nurse take first?

Choice A rationale:

Increasing the supplemental oxygen to 15 L/min via nasal cannula may seem like a logical step given the client’s low oxygen saturation. However, it’s important to note that oxygen therapy should be titrated carefully. Too much oxygen can lead to oxygen toxicity, which can cause cellular damage and worsen the client’s condition. Therefore, this is not the priority action.

Choice B rationale:

Notifying the health care provider of the client’s condition is the priority action. The client’s oxygen saturation is 88% on room air, which is below the normal range of 95% to 100%. This indicates that the client is not getting enough oxygen, which can lead to hypoxia and other serious complications. The health care provider needs to be informed immediately so that appropriate interventions can be initiated.

Choice C rationale:

Administering ibuprofen as ordered for fever is important, but it’s not the priority in this situation. While fever can indicate an infection, which could be contributing to the client’s low oxygen saturation, addressing the immediate issue of hypoxia is more critical.

Choice D rationale:

Obtaining a sputum culture from the client could provide valuable information about the type of bacteria causing the pneumonia and guide antibiotic therapy. However, this is not an immediate priority compared to addressing the client’s low oxygen saturation. In summary, while all these actions are important in caring for a client with pneumonia, the nurse must prioritize interventions based on their urgency and potential impact on the client’s health status. In this case, notifying the health care provider of the client’s condition is the most critical action.

Choice A rationale:

Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker and is expected to decrease heart rate by inhibiting calcium influx into cardiac cells, particularly in the SA (sinoatrial) node, where it can slow down the heart's electrical impulses.

Choice B rationale:

Increased contractility is not an expected outcome of verapamil use. In fact, verapamil's main action is to decrease myocardial contractility, making it useful for treating conditions like angina and atrial fibrillation.

Choice C rationale:

Verapamil is known to dilate coronary arteries, which can improve blood flow to the heart muscle and relieve symptoms of angina.

Choice D rationale:

Reduced blood pressure is an expected outcome of verapamil use due to its vasodilatory effects on peripheral blood vessels. This can be beneficial in treating hypertension and angina.

Choice E rationale:

Relieved chest pain is an expected outcome of verapamil use, particularly in the case of variant angina (Prinzmetal's angina), as it helps to relax coronary arteries and reduce coronary artery spasm, which is a common cause of chest pain in this condition.