A nurse is caring for a client after an overdose of OxyContin. The nurse anticipates an order for which medication to reverse the effects of the opioids?

Choice A reason:
Locking the doors and securing windows may prevent an escape attempt, but it does not address immediate risks within the client's environment. It can also make the client feel trapped or punished, which could exacerbate their distress.

Choice B reason:
Removing any objects that could be used for self-harm is a direct intervention that reduces immediate risk. It is a standard safety precaution in managing suicidal clients and helps create a safer environment while further assessments and interventions are planned.

Choice C reason:
Providing plastic eating utensils is a safety measure, but it is not as comprehensive as removing all objects that could be used for self-harm. This action should be part of a broader strategy to ensure safety.

Choice D reason:
Assigning a staff member to stay with the client can provide supervision and prevent an attempt at self-harm. However, it may not be feasible as a long-term solution and does not remove the means for self-harm.

Choice A reason:
Cirrhosis is a severe scarring of the liver and poor liver function seen at the terminal stages of chronic liver disease. It is one of the primary long-term effects of alcohol use disorder, as the liver is the main organ responsible for metabolizing alcohol. Chronic alcohol consumption can lead to inflammation, liver cell death, and eventually cirrhosis, which significantly impairs the liver's ability to function properly.

Choice B reason:
Heightened awareness is not typically a long-term physiological effect of alcohol use disorder. In fact, chronic alcohol use is more likely to dull cognitive functions and reduce awareness due to its depressive effects on the central nervous system.

Choice C reason:
Gastritis, an inflammation of the stomach lining, is another potential long-term effect of alcohol use disorder. Alcohol can irritate and erode the gastric mucosa, leading to gastritis, which may present with symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Choice D reason:
Brain damage is a serious long-term effect of alcohol use disorder. Alcohol can cause changes in the brain, leading to problems with cognition, memory, and motor skills. Chronic exposure to alcohol can result in brain shrinkage and the development of conditions like Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.

Choice E reason:
Esophageal varices are enlarged veins in the esophagus that can occur as a result of portal hypertension, often due to cirrhosis of the liver caused by alcohol use disorder. They are a significant risk because they can rupture and lead to life-threatening bleeding.