A nurse is caring for a client who has appendicitis. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a manifestation of this condition? (Select all that apply.)

A. "What part of this assignment makes you upset?": This response encourages open communication, allowing the staff nurse to express specific concerns. It demonstrates active listening, validation of feelings, and promotes problem-solving in a professional and supportive manner.

B. "Let's discuss how this affects your performance improvement plan.": This response shifts the focus to evaluation or discipline rather than addressing the immediate concern. It may create defensiveness and does not validate the nurse’s feelings or allow for discussion of the assignment issue.

C. "Why are you talking to me instead of the charge nurse?": This response is dismissive and may discourage the staff nurse from voicing concerns in the future. It does not address the fairness of the assignment or explore potential solutions.

D. "You are not the only one with a heavy assignment today.": Comparing workloads minimizes the nurse’s concerns and can be perceived as unsupportive. It does not facilitate problem-solving or acknowledge the staff nurse’s feelings about the assignment.

A. Headache: Disulfiram causes an aversive reaction when alcohol is consumed, leading to vasodilation and increased acetaldehyde levels. This often results in a severe, throbbing headache as one of the earliest and most common manifestations. The symptom appears quickly after alcohol intake and signals a disulfiram–alcohol interaction.

B. Vomiting: Accumulation of acetaldehyde triggers gastrointestinal distress, including nausea and profuse vomiting. These symptoms occur because the body is unable to metabolize alcohol properly while on disulfiram. Vomiting is a classic indicator that alcohol was consumed after starting therapy.

C. Confusion: Neurological effects such as confusion can develop during a disulfiram–alcohol reaction due to hypotension, decreased cerebral perfusion, and heightened toxin buildup. This change in mental status is especially concerning and suggests significant physiological stress after alcohol ingestion.

D. Sedation: Sedation is not a typical effect of a disulfiram–alcohol reaction. It is more commonly associated with other CNS depressants or alcohol intoxication alone. Because it does not reflect the vasodilatory or metabolic effects produced by disulfiram, it is not a reliable indicator of concurrent alcohol use.

E. Sweating: Sweating results from the sympathetic surge that occurs when acetaldehyde levels rise during a disulfiram–alcohol reaction. Clients may experience flushing, tachycardia, and diaphoresis as part of the acute response. This strongly supports that alcohol was consumed while taking disulfiram.