A nurse from the labor and delivery unit is assigned to float to a medical-surgical unit. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Choice A reason: Administering IV nitroglycerin to a client who is experiencing chest pain is not an appropriate assignment for the float nurse, as it requires advanced cardiac knowledge and skills that the nurse may not have. The charge nurse should assign this task to a nurse who is experienced in the emergency department.

Choice B reason: Completing a SAD PERSONS assessment scale for a client who has attempted suicide is not an appropriate assignment for the float nurse, as it requires mental health expertise and training that the nurse may not have. The charge nurse should assign this task to a nurse who is qualified in psychiatric nursing.

Choice C reason: Setting up a trauma room for an incoming client who was in a motor-vehicle crash is not an appropriate assignment for the float nurse, as it requires emergency preparedness and competence that the nurse may not have. The charge nurse should assign this task to a nurse who is familiar with the trauma protocols and equipment.

Choice D reason: Performing a urinary catheterization for a client who has experienced a cerebrovascular accident is an appropriate assignment for the float nurse, as it is a basic nursing skill that the nurse should have learned and practiced in the medical-surgical unit. The charge nurse should assign this task to the float nurse as long as the nurse is comfortable and confident with the procedure.

Choice A reason: This is the correct choice because this client has the least urgent and most stable condition. A deep-vein thrombosis is a blood clot that forms in a vein, usually in the leg. An INR of 2.0 indicates that the client's blood is within the therapeutic range for anticoagulation therapy, which prevents the clot from growing or breaking off. The nurse should ensure that the client has a prescription for oral anticoagulants, compression stockings, and follow-up appointments before discharging them.

Choice B reason: This is not the correct choice because this client has a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. Tumor lysis syndrome is a complication of chemotherapy that occurs when cancer cells break down rapidly and release their contents into the bloodstream. This can cause electrolyte imbalances, kidney damage, and cardiac arrhythmias. The nurse should monitor the client's vital signs, laboratory values, urine output, and fluid balance, and administer medications and interventions as prescribed.

Choice C reason: This is not the correct choice because this client has a new and acute condition. A new onset of left-sided weakness could indicate a stroke, which is a medical emergency that requires immediate diagnosis and treatment. The nurse should perform a neurological assessment, check the client's blood pressure and blood glucose levels, and activate the stroke protocol.

Choice D reason: This is not the correct choice because this client has a severe and unstable condition. Angina is chest pain that occurs when the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen-rich blood. A troponin level of 3 ng/mL indicates that the client has a high level of cardiac enzymes in the blood, which suggests a heart attack or myocardial infarction. The nurse should administer oxygen, nitroglycerin, aspirin, and morphine as prescribed, and prepare the client for further diagnostic tests and interventions.