A nurse is assessing a client who is postoperative following abdominal surgery and has an indwelling urinary catheter that is draining dark yellow urine at 25 mL/hr.

Which of the following interventions should the nurse anticipate?

The correct answer is choice B. Use an ibuterol inhaler.

Choice A rationale:

Completing oral hygiene is important for overall health, but it is not specifically related to the preparation for postural drainage in cystic fibrosis patients. Postural drainage is a technique used to clear mucus from the lungs, and oral hygiene does not directly affect this process.

Choice B rationale:

Using a bronchodilator, such as an ibuterol inhaler, is recommended before postural drainage because it helps to open the airways, making the drainage process more effective. Bronchodilators are often used to relax the muscles around the airways, which can become constricted in conditions like cystic fibrosis.

Choice C rationale:

Taking pancrelipase is related to aiding digestion in cystic fibrosis patients who have pancreatic insufficiency. While it is an important part of the overall management of cystic fibrosis, it is not directly related to the preparation for postural drainage.

Choice D rationale:

Eating a meal before postural drainage is not recommended because a full stomach can make the process uncomfortable and less effective. It is generally advised to perform postural drainage on an empty stomach to ensure that the mucus can be cleared from the lungs more easily.

Choice A reason:

Completing an incident report is not the correct action. An incident report should be completed as part of the hospital's protocol to document the medication error and ensure appropriate follow-up and investigation.

Choice B reason:

Checking the client for indications of bleeding is the correct action to be taken. In this situation, the nurse's first priority should be to assess the client for indications of bleeding, as the client received a significantly higher dose of IV heparin than prescribed. Heparin is an anticoagulant medication used to prevent blood clots, and an overdose can increase the risk of bleeding.

After administering the wrong dose of medication, the nurse's immediate concern is the client's safety and well-being. Checking for signs of bleeding, such as petechiae, ecchymosis, hematomas, bleeding gums, melena (black, tarry stools), haematuria (blood in urine), or any other unusual bleeding, is crucial.

Choice C reason:

Monitor the client's aPTT levels: This is not the correct action to be taken. Monitoring the client's activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) levels is essential to assess the client's coagulation status and determine if the overdose of heparin has affected their clotting ability. The healthcare provider may adjust the heparin dosage based on the aPTT levels.

Choice D reason:

Notify the risk manager: This is not the correct action to be taken. The risk manager or appropriate supervisor should be informed about the medication error as soon as possible to initiate a thorough review of the incident and take necessary steps to prevent similar errors in the future.