A nurse is caring for a client who arrives at the emergency department and reports vomiting and diarrhea for the past 3 days. The client's serum potassium level is 2.8 mEq/L. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement first?
Administer an IV potassium drip.
Listen to the client's bowel sounds.
Check the client's hand grasps.
Initiate cardiac monitoring for the client.
The Correct Answer is D
The client has hypokalemia, which is a low level of potassium in the blood. Hypokalemia can cause cardiac arrhythmias, which can be life-threatening. The nurse should initiate cardiac monitoring first to assess the client's heart rhythm and rate, and intervene if any abnormalities are detected. Administering an IV potassium drip is an appropriate intervention for hypokalemia, but it is not the first priority. Listening to the client's bowel sounds and checking the client's hand grasps are also relevant assessments for hypokalemia, as it can cause decreased bowel motility and muscle weakness, but they are not as urgent as cardiac monitoring.
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A mastectomy is a surgical removal of one or both breasts, usually done to treat breast cancer. The nurse should respect the client's autonomy and provide factual information about the procedure, its benefits and risks, and possible alternatives . The nurse should also assess the client's readiness to learn, address any concerns or fears, and offer emotional support . Telling the client to get a second opinion may imply that the nurse does not trust the surgeon or doubts the necessity of the procedure.
Telling the client that they will be cancer-free if they have the procedure may be false or misleading, as there may be residual cancer cells or recurrence after surgery. Giving the client a list of other people who had the same procedure may violate confidentiality and may not be helpful or relevant to the client's situation.
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