A nurse is caring for a client in an emergency department (ED).

Exhibits

For each assessment finding, click to specify if the finding is consistent with bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa. Each finding may support more than one disease process or none at all. There must be at least 1 selection In every column. There does not need to be a selection in every row. (Note: Each category must have at least 1 response option selected)

Rationale:

A. Assess the client's lung sounds prior to the infusion: Pre-transfusion assessment of lung sounds is essential to detect any baseline abnormalities and to monitor for fluid overload or transfusion-related lung complications such as transfusion-associated circulatory overload.

B. Infuse the blood over 4 hr: Older adults are at increased risk for fluid overload, so transfusing packed RBCs slowly over 4 hours is appropriate and safer, as long as the blood is completely administered within the maximum 4-hour window from removal from refrigeration.

C. Verify with another nurse that the unit of blood is compatible with the client's blood type: A dual verification process is mandatory to ensure safe administration. The nurse must check the client’s ID, blood type, unit number, and expiration date with another licensed professional before initiating the transfusion.

D. Prime the infusion tubing with 0.45% sodium chloride: Only 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) should be used to prime and flush blood transfusion tubing. Hypotonic solutions like 0.45% sodium chloride can cause hemolysis and should never be used with blood products.

E. Don sterile gloves to prepare the blood administration setup: Sterile gloves are not necessary for setting up a blood transfusion. Clean gloves are sufficient for handling equipment and initiating IV therapy, following standard precautions.

Rationale for Correct Choices:

• Serotonin syndrome: The client presents with restlessness, fever, abdominal pain, and disorientation all classic signs of serotonin syndrome. These symptoms developed after a recent dose increase of a serotonergic medication, indicating a likely adverse drug reaction.
• Adverse effects of paroxetine: Paroxetine, an SSRI, can cause serotonin syndrome, especially when recently increased or combined with other serotonergic agents. The timing of the dose escalation aligns with the emergence of the client’s acute symptoms.

Rationale for Incorrect Choices:

• Psychosis: While disorientation is present, there is no evidence of hallucinations, delusions, or loss of reality testing, which are essential features of psychosis.
• Mania: The client does not show signs of elevated mood, grandiosity, pressured speech, or risky behavior, which are typical of mania.
• Anxiety: Although anxiety is part of the client’s history, the sudden onset of fever and autonomic instability points more clearly to a toxic reaction rather than worsening anxiety.
• Fluoxetine discontinuation: Fluoxetine has a long half-life, and discontinuation typically causes delayed withdrawal symptoms like dizziness or mood swings not the acute systemic symptoms noted here.