A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a patient who reports severe abdominal pain in the left quadrant. The healthcare provider suspects a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.
What sign should the nurse look for that indicates the patient has blood in the peritoneum?

The nurse should first: C. Administer additional morphine for pain management, followed by B. Reposition the client for comfort.

The client is reporting a pain level of 6 on a scale from 0 to 10, which indicates moderate to severe pain. As per the medication administration record, the client has an order for Morphine 4 mg IV bolus every 6 hours PRN for pain. Since the client is in pain, it would be appropriate to administer the morphine first to manage the pain.

After addressing the client’s pain, the nurse should then reposition the client for comfort. This can help to alleviate any discomfort or pressure points that may be contributing to the client’s pain. It’s also important to ensure the client’s safety and comfort by making sure the call light is within reach.

The options related to restraints (A and D for Response 1, and A, B, C, D for Response 2) are not relevant in this scenario as there is no indication in the provided information that the client is being restrained or that restraints are necessary. The client is drowsy but arouses easily to verbal stimuli and is able to follow simple commands, suggesting that they are not at risk of harming themselves or others, which would necessitate the use of restraints. Therefore, these options can be ruled out.

Choice A rationale: Wearing a mask when caring for the client is not necessarily required in this scenario. The client has a fever, sore throat, and fatigue, which could be symptoms of many different illnesses. While it’s always important to use personal protective equipment (PPE) when necessary, the need for a mask isn’t specified in this scenario. The nurse should follow the hospital’s infection control guidelines and use PPE appropriately.

Choice B rationale: Encouraging the client to increase fluid intake is a good action for the nurse to take. The client appears slightly dehydrated, and increasing fluid intake can help alleviate this. Dehydration can make the body more susceptible to infection and can make recovery more difficult. By encouraging the client to drink more fluids, the nurse is helping to combat the client’s dehydration and potentially helping to speed up recovery.

Choice C rationale: Placing the client in a private room is not necessarily required based on the information provided. Unless the client’s condition is known to be contagious and requires isolation, a private room may not be necessary. The nurse should follow the hospital’s guidelines for room assignments.

Choice D rationale: Placing the client on contact precautions is not necessarily required based on the information provided. Contact precautions are used for patients who are known or suspected to have serious illnesses that are easily spread by direct patient contact or by indirect contact with items in the patient’s environment. The client’s symptoms could be due to a variety of illnesses, and it’s not clear from the information provided that contact precautions are necessary.

Choice E rationale: Monitoring the client’s temperature every 4 hours is a good action for the nurse to take. The client has had a fever for the past two days, so regular monitoring is necessary. By keeping track of the client’s temperature, the nurse can monitor the progress of the illness and the effectiveness of interventions.

Choice F rationale: Checking the client’s allergy history before administering the antibiotic is a crucial action for the nurse to take. This is a standard precaution to avoid any potential allergic reactions to the medication. Allergic reactions can range from mild to severe and can potentially be life-threatening. By checking the client’s allergy history, the nurse is ensuring the safety of the client.

Choice G rationale: Educating the client about the importance of completing the full course of antibiotics is a crucial action for the nurse to take. This is crucial to ensure the infection is fully treated and to prevent antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in response to the use of antibiotics and become resistant to the drug. This can make infections harder to treat. By educating the client about the importance of completing the full course of antibiotics, the nurse is helping to combat the problem of antibiotic resistance.