A nurse is assisting with the care of a client following a cerebral angiography. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Rationale for Correct Options:

• Heart rate. The heart rate has increased from 90/min on Day 1 to 132/min on Day 2. This significant elevation is concerning for worsening systemic inflammation, hypovolemia, or sepsis and requires immediate intervention.
• Respiratory status. The client initially had diminished breath sounds at the lung bases, but by Day 2, breath sounds are diminished throughout. This suggests worsening respiratory function, possibly due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or pleural effusion, both of which can complicate severe pancreatitis. Immediate assessment and intervention are necessary.
• Mental confusion. The client was alert and oriented on Day 1 but is now disoriented to person, place, and time on Day 2. This change in mental status can indicate worsening systemic inflammation, sepsis, hypoxia, or metabolic disturbances such as hypocalcemia. Immediate evaluation is needed.
• Blood pressure. While the client’s initial blood pressure was stable at 126/78 mm Hg, the current reading is not provided. If the client is experiencing hypotension, it could indicate worsening shock, requiring urgent intervention.
• Temperature. The client’s temperature increased from 37.2 °C (99 °F) on Day 1 to 38.9 °C (102 °F) on Day 2. This suggests a developing infection, such as infected pancreatic necrosis or sepsis, which requires immediate reporting and further evaluation.
• Cold, clammy skin. Cold, clammy skin is a sign of poor perfusion, which may indicate impending shock due to worsening sepsis or hypovolemia. This is an urgent finding requiring immediate attention.

Rationale for Incorrect Options:

• Urine output. The client’s urine output was documented as 60 mL/hr, which is within the normal range. There is no indication of oliguria or anuria that would require immediate reporting.
• Sodium level. The sodium level of 142 mEq/L is within the normal range and does not indicate a critical electrolyte imbalance requiring urgent intervention.
• Pain. The client’s pain has increased from 8/10 to 10/10 despite receiving morphine via a PCA pump. While pain management is crucial, worsening pain alone is not the most urgent concern compared to systemic complications like respiratory failure or hemodynamic instability.
• Serum amylase level. Although the serum amylase level is significantly elevated at 498 units/L, this is expected in acute pancreatitis and does not necessarily indicate an immediate life-threatening emergency. Trends in amylase and lipase levels are important for monitoring, but they do not require urgent reporting unless accompanied by other signs of deterioration.

A. "I will stop what I am doing and lie down." Stopping activity and resting helps reduce myocardial oxygen demand, which can relieve stable angina. Lying down also minimizes strain on the heart and decreases the risk of injury if the client becomes lightheaded.
B. "I will call the provider after taking one dose of nitroglycerin." Clients with stable angina should take one dose of sublingual nitroglycerin and wait five minutes. If pain persists after three doses taken five minutes apart, emergency medical services should be contacted instead of waiting to call the provider.
C. "I will hold my breath and bear down." The Valsalva maneuver can increase vagal tone, leading to bradycardia and decreased cardiac output, which may worsen angina rather than relieve it. This is not an appropriate response to chest pain.
D. "I will take two 325 milligram aspirin tablets at the same time." While aspirin is beneficial for preventing platelet aggregation, the usual recommended dose for acute chest pain is a single 160–325 mg tablet chewed immediately. Taking two full-dose aspirin tablets is unnecessary and may increase the risk of bleeding.