A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for a peripheral IV catheter.

After puncturing the skin with the vascular access device and noting a blood return in the flashback chamber, which of the following actions should the nurse perform next?

Choice A Reason:

Urine specific gravity: The specific gravity of 1.035 indicates concentrated urine and might be indicative of dehydration. However, the nurse should address this finding by encouraging increased fluid intake before reporting it to the provider.

Choice B Reason:

Prealbumin: The prealbumin level is 25 mg/dL. Prealbumin is a marker of nutritional status and can indicate the adequacy of protein intake and overall nutritional status. A level of 25 mg/dL is relatively low, which may suggest malnutrition or insufficient protein intake. This finding should be reported to the provider so that appropriate interventions can be initiated to address the client's nutritional needs.

Choice C Reason:

Temperature: The temperature is not mentioned in the provided information. If the temperature is within the normal range, there is no need to report it to the provider.

Choice D Reason:

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is not mentioned in the provided information. If the blood pressure is within the normal range, there is no need to report it to the provider.

It's important for the nurse to critically assess the client's medical record and prioritize the findings that require immediate attention or intervention. In this case, the low prealbumin level indicates a potential nutritional issue that needs to be addressed promptly. The nurse should communicate this finding to the healthcare provider to ensure appropriate management and care for the client.

This is because the AP’s statement constitutes an intentional tort, which is a wrong that the defendant knew or should have known would be caused by their actions. An assault is defined as intentionally putting another person in reasonable apprehension of an imminent harmful or offensive contact.

The AP’s threat of using restraints and force-feeding the client could cause the client to fear for their safety and dignity, which is an assault.

Choice B. Battery is wrong because battery is defined as intentional causation of harmful or offensive contact with another person without that person’s consent.

The AP did not actually touch the client or carry out the threat, so there was no battery.

Choice C. Negligence is wrong because negligence is an unintentional tort, which occurs when the defendant’s actions or inactions were unreasonably unsafe.

The AP did not act or fail to act in a way that breached the standard of care or caused harm to the client, so there was no negligence.

Choice D. Malpractice is wrong because malpractice is a type of negligence that involves a professional failing to perform their duties according to the standards of their profession.

The AP did not perform any professional duty or service that was below the standard of care or caused harm to the client, so there was no malpractice.