A nurse is caring for a client who has a pulmonary embolism and has a new prescription for enoxaparin 1.5 mg/kg/dose subcutaneously every 12 hours. The client weighs 245 lbs. How many mg should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

Choice A Reason: This choice is incorrect because providing a brightly lit environment may stimulate the client and increase the intracranial pressure. A brightly lit environment is an environment that has a high level of illumination or brightness. It may be used for clients who have depression, seasonal affective disorder, or insomnia, but it does not help to reduce the intracranial pressure.

Choice B Reason: This choice is incorrect because teaching controlled coughing and deep breathing may increase the intrathoracic pressure and increase the intracranial pressure. Controlled coughing and deep breathing are techniques that help to clear the airway and improve lung expansion. They may be used for clients who have respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or postoperative complications, but they do not help to reduce the intracranial pressure.

Choice C Reason: This choice is incorrect because encouraging a minimum intake of 2000 mL (67.5 oz) of clear fluids per day may cause fluid overload and increase the intracranial pressure. Fluid overload is a condition in which the body has too much fluid, which can impair the function of the heart, lungs, and kidneys. Therefore, restricting fluid intake and using diuretics may be indicated for clients who have increased intracranial pressure.

Choice D Reason: This choice is correct because elevating the head of the bed 20° may help to improve the venous drainage and decrease the intracranial pressure. As explained above, positioning the client in a semi-Fowler's or high-Fowler's position can facilitate breathing and prevent further complications. However, elevating the head of the bed more than 30° may decrease the cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), which is the difference between the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the intracranial pressure (ICP). A normal CPP range is 70 to 100 mm Hg, and a low CPP (<50 mm Hg) can cause cerebral ischemia, herniation, or death. Therefore, elevating the head of the bed to a moderate angle (20°) may be optimal for clients who have increased ICP.

Choice A Reason: This choice is incorrect because it indicates respiratory alkalosis, not AKI. Respiratory alkalosis is a condition in which the lungs eliminate too much carbon dioxide (CO2) from the blood, resulting in a low level of CO2 (PaCO2) and a high level of pH. A normal PaCO2 range is 35 to 45 mm Hg, and a normal pH range is 7.35 to 7.45, so a value of 30 mm Hg and 7.49 indicate respiratory alkalosis.

Choice B Reason: This choice is incorrect because it indicates respiratory acidosis, not AKI. Respiratory acidosis is a condition in which the lungs cannot eliminate enough CO2 from the blood, resulting in a high level of CO2 (PaCO2) and a low level of pH. A value of 46 mm Hg and 7.26 indicate respiratory acidosis.

Choice C Reason: This choice is correct because it indicates metabolic acidosis, which is a common complication of AKI. Metabolic acidosis is a condition in which the body produces too much acid or loses too much base, resulting in a low level of bicarbonate (HCO3) and a low level of pH. A normal HCO3 range is 22 to 26 mEq/L, so a value of 14 mEq/L indicates metabolic acidosis. The low PaCO2 value (30 mm Hg) is due to the respiratory compensation mechanism that tries to restore the acid-base balance by increasing the ventilation and eliminating more CO2.

Choice D Reason: This choice is incorrect because it indicates metabolic alkalosis, not AKI. Metabolic alkalosis is a condition in which the body loses too much acid or gains too much base, resulting in a high level of bicarbonate (HCO3) and a high level of pH. A value of 30 mEq/L and 7.49 indicate metabolic alkalosis.