A nurse administers an opioid analgesic to a postoperative client who also has severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Which Intervention is most important for the nurse to implement before leaving the client alone?

Elevate the head of the bed to a 45 degree angle.

Lift and lock the side rails in place.

Apply the client's positive airway pressure device.

Remove dentures or other oral appliance.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

A. Elevate the head of the bed to a 45-degree angle:

Elevating the head of the bed can help improve airway patency and reduce the risk of airway obstruction in clients with OSA. While this intervention is important, applying the positive airway pressure device (CPAP or BiPAP) takes precedence due to its direct impact on maintaining airway patency and preventing respiratory compromise.

B. Lift and lock the side rails in place:

Ensuring the safety of the client by lifting and locking the side rails is important, but it does not directly address the client's OSA or the potential respiratory depression associated with opioid analgesic administration.

C. Apply the client's positive airway pressure device:

This is the most important intervention in this scenario. Clients with severe obstructive sleep apnea rely on positive airway pressure devices, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), to maintain airway patency and prevent episodes of apnea during sleep. Applying the device before leaving the client alone ensures continuous support for effective breathing.

D. Remove dentures or other oral appliance:

While removing dentures or other oral appliances may be necessary for client comfort and safety, it is not directly related to managing OSA or preventing respiratory compromise associated with opioid analgesic administration.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Washes hands before handling the needle and syringe:

This action demonstrates an understanding of standard precautions. Hand hygiene, including washing hands before and after handling needles and syringes, is a fundamental component of standard precautions.

B. Wears gloves to dispose of the needle and syringe:

While wearing gloves is important for protecting oneself from potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens, it is part of personal protective equipment (PPE) precautions rather than standard precautions. Standard precautions primarily focus on hand hygiene and barrier precautions such as gloves, gowns, and masks when appropriate.

C. Dons a face mask before administering the medication:

Wearing a face mask is not typically necessary for routine administration of medications, unless there is a risk of splashes or sprays of blood or body fluids. While it's important to protect mucous membranes from exposure to potentially infectious materials, the routine use of a face mask for medication administration is not a component of standard precautions.

D. Removes needle before discarding used syringes:

This action is unsafe and does not demonstrate an understanding of standard precautions. Removing the needle before discarding the syringe increases the risk of needlestick injuries. Proper needle disposal involves keeping the needle intact with the syringe and disposing of them together in a puncture-resistant container.

A. Inject In abdominal area at least 2 in (5.1 cm) from the umbilicus. B. Rotate injections between the abdomen and gluteal areas. C. Expel the air in the prefilled syringe prior to Injection. D. Massage the injection site to increase absorption.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Inject in abdominal area at least 2 in (5.1 cm) from the umbilicus:

This instruction is accurate and appropriate for the administration of low molecular weight heparin subcutaneously. Injecting into the abdominal area at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) away from the umbilicus is a commonly recommended site for subcutaneous injections due to the availability of subcutaneous tissue and the reduced risk of injury to underlying structures.

B. Rotate injections between the abdomen and gluteal areas:

While rotation of injection sites is important to prevent tissue damage and lipodystrophy, for subcutaneous injections of low molecular weight heparin, the abdomen is typically the preferred site due to better absorption and reduced risk of complications. Therefore, rotating between the abdomen and gluteal areas may not be necessary or recommended for this specific medication.

C. Expel the air in the prefilled syringe prior to injection:

Expelling air from the prefilled syringe is a standard practice to ensure accurate dosing and prevent air embolism, but it is not specific to the administration of low molecular weight heparin. This instruction should be included in general injection technique education but is not specific to the administration of this medication.

D. Massage the injection site to increase absorption:

Massaging the injection site after administration of low molecular weight heparin is not recommended, as it can increase the risk of bleeding or hematoma formation at the injection site. Massaging the site is generally contraindicated for anticoagulant injections to avoid disrupting the clotting process.

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A nurse administers an opioid analgesic to a postoperative client who also has severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Which Intervention is most important for the nurse to implement before leaving the client alone?

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