A nurse is calculating the BMI of a client who has a weight of 75 kg (165.3 lb) and a height of 1.8 m (5 ft 9 in). Which of the following values should the nurse calculate as the client's BMI?

Rationale:

A. Measure the client's apical pulse while another nurse measures their radial pulse: Assessing for a pulse deficit involves comparing the apical and radial pulses simultaneously. A difference between the two indicates that not all heartbeats are reaching peripheral circulation, often seen in arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation.

B. After inflation, deflate a blood pressure cuff on the client's arm while palpating their brachial pulse: This method is used for measuring blood pressure, not for identifying pulse deficits. It does not provide information on the difference between central and peripheral pulse rates.

C. Compare the client's carotid pulse while resting to their carotid pulse after standing for 1 min: This assesses for orthostatic changes, not pulse deficit. Pulse deficit requires comparison of apical and radial pulses, not positional changes in carotid pulse strength or rate.

D. Assess both of the client's radial pulses at the same time and compare the quality of pulsations: Comparing bilateral radial pulses helps detect differences in circulation or vessel obstruction but does not assess for a pulse deficit, which specifically involves apical-radial pulse comparison.

Rationale:

A. Disconnecting the catheter from the drainage bag to empty the bag: This increases the risk of introducing pathogens into the closed urinary drainage system, leading to potential catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). The drainage bag should be emptied without breaking the system.

B. Emptying the drainage bag when it is half full: This prevents backflow of urine, which could lead to infection or increased bladder pressure. Regular emptying also allows for accurate measurement of urine output and maintains client comfort.

C. Keeping the drainage bag above waist level: Elevating the bag above the bladder increases the risk of backflow of urine into the bladder, which can introduce bacteria and cause infection. The bag should always remain below the level of the bladder.

D. Using sterile gloves when emptying the drainage bag: Sterile gloves are not necessary for this procedure. Clean gloves are sufficient since the nurse or AP is not entering the sterile parts of the urinary system but rather emptying the bag from the outlet port.