A nurse is caring for a client who is admitted to the medical-surgical unit.

Exhibits

The nurse reviews the client's laboratory findings and vital signs. Select the 5 findings that require immediate follow-up.

Rationale for correct choices:

• Obtain IV access: The client has hypotension (BP 90/50 mm Hg), tachycardia (HR 118/min), and significant anemia (Hgb 9.1 g/dL, Hct 27%), all of which suggest possible active gastrointestinal bleeding. Establishing IV access is a priority to allow rapid fluid resuscitation or blood product administration as needed.
• Prepare for a blood transfusion: Given the positive hemoccult stool, anemia, and vital sign changes, the client may require a blood transfusion to restore hemodynamic stability and oxygen-carrying capacity. Preparing for transfusion ensures timely intervention in case of worsening blood loss.

Rationale for incorrect choices:

• Call the surgical suite to notify that the client is arriving STAT: While the client is scheduled for endoscopy, immediate stabilization takes priority over notifying the surgical suite. The client’s hemodynamic status must be addressed first to prevent deterioration.
• Recheck the client's oxygen saturation: The client’s oxygen saturation is 98% on room air, which is within normal limits. Rechecking is not immediately necessary and does not address the urgent need for stabilization.
• Place the client in a supine position with feet elevated: Although elevating the feet can help improve perfusion temporarily, it does not treat the underlying anemia or hypotension and is less urgent than establishing IV access and preparing for transfusion.
• Offer oral fluids: Oral intake is contraindicated in a client at risk for endoscopy and possible GI bleeding. Fluids could increase the risk of aspiration and do not address hemodynamic instability.
• Administer PRN antacids: Antacids may provide minor symptom relief but do not treat active blood loss or stabilize the client before endoscopy.
• Document vital signs: Documentation is important but secondary to immediate interventions that address the client’s hypotension and potential hemorrhage.

Rationale:

A. Clamp the catheter distal to the injection port: Clamping the catheter allows urine to accumulate in the tubing, ensuring a fresh specimen can be obtained from the sampling port rather than from stagnant urine in the drainage bag, which could be contaminated.

B. Drain the specimen from the drainage bag: Urine in the drainage bag may be old and contaminated, which can lead to inaccurate culture results. Specimens should be collected aseptically from the catheter sampling port.

C. Collect 2 mL of urine for each specimen: For accurate urinalysis and culture, a larger volume typically 3–10 mL for culture and 10–15 mL for routine urinalysis is recommended to ensure enough specimen for testing and repeat analysis if needed.

D. Obtain the urinalysis specimen before the culture specimen: Culture specimens should be collected first to prevent contamination. Performing urinalysis first can alter the bacterial composition of the sample and compromise culture accuracy.