A nurse is caring for a client who has bleeding esophageal varices and is being treated with a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube. Which of the following actions should the nurse perform?

Deﬂate the balloons for 5 min every 2 hr to prevent tissue necrosis.

Keep the head of the bed ﬂat at all times to prevent the development of shock.

Maintain constant observation while the balloons are inﬂated.

Suction the tube every 2 hr and as needed to maintain patency.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A Reason: This is incorrect. The balloons should not be deﬂated without a physician's order, as this can cause rebleeding or aspiration.

Choice B Reason: This is incorrect. The head of the bed should be elevated to 30 to 45 degrees to reduce pressure on the balloons and prevent gastric reﬂux.

Choice C Reason: This is correct. The nurse should monitor the client closely for signs of complications, such as airway obstruction, aspiration, or balloon rupture. The nurse should also keep scissors at the bedside to cut the tube and release the balloons in case of an emergency.

Choice D Reason: This is incorrect. The tube should not be suctioned, as this can damage the mucosa and cause bleeding. The nurse should only aspirate gastric contents through the gastric lumen to decompress the stomach.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A Reason: This is incorrect because a decreased level of consciousness is a late sign of shock, not an early one. Decreased level of consciousness indicates that the brain is not receiving enough oxygen and blood ﬂow, which can lead to irreversible damage and death.

Choice B Reason: This is correct because increased respiratory rate is an early sign of shock, indicating hypoxia. This finding indicates that the client is experiencing hypoxia, which is a lack of oxygen in the tissues and organs. Hypoxia is a common and early sign of shock, which is a condition where the body's vital organs do not receive enough blood

ﬂow and oxygen due to low blood pressure, low cardiac output, or low blood volume. The client's respiratory rate increases as a compensatory mechanism to increase oxygen intake and delivery.

Choice C Reason: This is incorrect because hypotension is a late sign of shock, not an early one. Hypotension indicates that the blood pressure is too low to maintain adequate perfusion and oxygenation to the vital organs.

Choice D Reason: This is incorrect because anuria is a late sign of shock, not an early one. Anuria indicates that the kidneys are not receiving enough blood ﬂow and oxygen, which can result in acute kidney injury or failure.

A. Elevate the client’s feet. B. Administer a unit of packed RBCs. C. Initiate a dopamine IV infusion for the client. D. Increase the client’s IV ﬂuid rate.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice a) is incorrect because elevating the client’s feet is not the priority action for a hypotensive client. Elevating the client’s feet may help increase the venous return to the heart, but it may also compromise the respiratory status of a client who has esophageal varices and is at risk of aspiration.

Choice b) is incorrect because administering a unit of packed RBCs is not the priority action for a hypotensive client. Administering a unit of packed RBCs may help increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, but it may also increase the blood viscosity and pressure, which can worsen the bleeding from the esophageal varices.

Choice c) is incorrect because initiating a dopamine IV infusion for the client is not the priority action for a hypotensive client. Initiating a dopamine IV infusion may help increase the blood pressure and cardiac output, but it may also cause vasoconstriction and tachycardia, which can increase the risk of hemorrhage and arrhythmias.

Choice d) is correct because increasing the client’s IV ﬂuid rate is the priority action for a hypotensive client. Increasing the client’s IV ﬂuid rate may help restore the intravascular volume and perfusion, which can prevent shock and organ damage. Increasing the client’s IV ﬂuid rate may also dilute the blood and reduce its viscosity and pressure, which can decrease the bleeding from the esophageal varices.

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A nurse is caring for a client who has bleeding esophageal varices and is being treated with a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube. Which of the following actions should the nurse perform?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

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