A nurse in an emergency department is preparing a client for emergency surgery.
The client's blood alcohol level is 180 mg/dL.
Which of the following actions is the nurse's priority?
Insert an indwelling urinary catheter.
Insert an NG tube.
Obtain consent for surgery.
Apply antiembolic stockings.
The Correct Answer is B
The correct answer is choice B: Insert an NG tube.
Choice A rationale: Inserting an indwelling urinary catheter may be necessary for monitoring urine output in some cases, but in this situation, the priority is to insert an NG tube. This will help prevent aspiration during surgery due to the client's high blood alcohol level, which increases the risk of vomiting.
Choice B rationale: Inserting an NG tube is the priority action for the nurse because a high blood alcohol level increases the risk of vomiting and aspiration during surgery. An NG tube can help reduce this risk by keeping the stomach empty and minimizing the chance of aspiration.
Choice C rationale: Obtaining consent for surgery is important, but in emergency situations, consent may be implied, or a designated surrogate decision-maker may provide consent. It is not the priority action for the nurse in this scenario.
Choice D rationale: Applying antiembolic stockings is a preventive measure for deep vein thrombosis, but it is not the priority action in this case. Ensuring the client's safety during surgery, specifically by preventing aspiration, takes precedence due to the client's high blood alcohol level.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The first action the nurse should take is to collect information about the irritant that caused the injury.
This information is important because it can help determine the appropriate treatment and irrigation solution to use.
Choice A is incorrect because airborne precautions are used to prevent the spread of infectious diseases that are transmitted through the air, and are not necessary in this situation.
Choice B is incorrect because administering proparacaine eye drops into the affected eye is not the first action the nurse should take.
Proparacaine is a topical anesthetic that can be used to numb the eye before performing ocular irrigation, but it is not the first action the nurse should take.
Choice C is incorrect because installing 0.9% sodium chloride solution into the affected eye is not the first action the nurse should take; the nurse should first collect information about the irritant that caused the injury before performing ocular irrigation.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation

The earliest indication of peritonitis in a patient undergoing peritoneal dialysis is often cloudy dialysis fluid when drained from the body.
Choice B is incorrect because an increased heart rate is not the earliest indication of peritonitis.
Choice C is incorrect because generalized abdominal pain is not the earliest indication of peritonitis.
Choice D is incorrect because fever is not the earliest indication of peritonitis.
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