A nurse is caring for a client who had abdominal surgery. The client tells the nurse that "something gave way.”. The nurse removes the dressing and sees the wound has eviscerated. Identify the correct sequence of steps the nurse should follow. (Move the steps into the box on the right, placing them in the selected order of performance. Use all the steps.).

Choice A rationale:
The nurse should instruct the client to place cellular phones on the ear opposite the side of the pacemaker to minimize the risk of electromagnetic interference. Although the risk of interference is low with modern pacemakers, it is still a precautionary measure. Placing the phone on the ear opposite the pacemaker reduces the likelihood of any potential electromagnetic interaction.
Choice B rationale:
The instruction in choice B, "Avoid showering for the first 2 weeks following surgery,”. is not appropriate. There is no need for the client to avoid showering after pacemaker insertion. In fact, maintaining good hygiene is essential to prevent infection at the incision site. The client can take a shower, but they should avoid soaking the incision area and patting it dry afterward.
Choice C rationale:
The instruction in choice C, "Avoid heavy lifting for 1 week following insertion,”. is not the best option. The recommended timeframe to avoid heavy lifting after a pacemaker insertion is usually around 4 to 6 weeks. This duration allows the surgical site to heal properly and reduces the risk of dislodging the pacemaker leads or causing damage.
Choice D rationale:
The instruction in choice D, "Stand at least 2 feet away while using a microwave,”. is not directly related to pacemaker care. While it is generally recommended to maintain a safe distance from microwaves during use, this instruction is not specific to clients with pacemakers.

Choice A rationale:
The combination of widened QRS, frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), and bradycardia (heart rate of 55/min) on telemetry monitoring suggests hyperkalemia. Elevated potassium levels in the blood can cause delayed repolarization of cardiac cells, leading to widened QRS complexes and PVCs. Bradycardia is another common manifestation of hyperkalemia.
Choice B rationale:
Hypocalcemia, characterized by low calcium levels in the blood, can lead to cardiac arrhythmias, but it typically presents with a prolonged QT interval rather than widened QRS complexes and PVCs.
Choice C rationale:
Hyperglycemia, which is high blood glucose levels, does not directly affect the electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters like QRS width or heart rate. It may have systemic effects, but it is not responsible for the ECG changes described in the scenario.
Choice D rationale:
Hypophosphatemia, or low levels of phosphate in the blood, can cause muscle weakness and may have systemic effects, but it is not associated with the specific ECG changes seen in hyperkalemia, such as widened QRS complexes and PVCs.