A nurse in an emergency department is reviewing the medical record of a client who is having an acute myocardial infarction.

Which of the following findings places the client at risk if he receives alteplase?

The correct answer is choiceD. Remind the client to use the incentive spirometer.

Choice A rationale:

Observing the position of the suspended weight requires clinical judgment to ensure proper alignment and effectiveness of the traction, which is beyond the scope of practice for assistive personnel.

Choice B rationale:

Checking the client’s pedal pulse on the right leg involves assessing circulation, which is a clinical task that should be performed by a licensed nurse.

Choice C rationale:

Asking the client to describe her pain involves pain assessment, which requires clinical judgment and should be done by a nurse.

Choice D rationale:

Reminding the client to use the incentive spirometer is a task that can be delegated to assistive personnel as it involves reinforcing previously taught instructions without requiring clinical judgment.

This is because the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a tool to assess the level of consciousness and neurological status of a client who has a closed head injury. The GCS score can help guide the priority of interventions and the need for further diagnostic tests.
Choice A is wrong because an MRI of the brain is not the first action to take for a client who has a closed head injury. An MRI may be indicated later to evaluate the extent of brain damage, but it is not an emergency procedure.
Choice B is wrong because mannitol IV bolus is a medication that reduces intracranial pressure (ICP) by drawing fluid out of the brain tissue. However, mannitol should not be administered before confirming the presence and degree of increased ICP, which can be done by measuring the GCS score and other vital signs.
Choice D is wrong because inserting an indwelling urinary catheter for the client is not the first action to take for a client who has a closed head injury. A urinary catheter may be needed to monitor fluid balance and renal function, but it is not an urgent intervention.