A nurse is caring for a client who is hemorrhaging and hypotensive from esophageal variceal bleeding. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Administer vasopressin to the client.
Request blood from blood bank.
Verify that the client has adequate IV access.
Insert an indwelling urinary catheter.
The Correct Answer is C
Verify that the client has adequate IV access.
Choice A rationale:
Administering vasopressin to the client might be necessary to manage the hemorrhage, but before any medication administration, it is crucial to ensure the client has adequate IV access. Vasopressin is a vasoconstrictor and can help control bleeding from esophageal varices, but its effectiveness relies on IV access to deliver the medication promptly.
Choice B rationale:
Requesting blood from the blood bank is essential for a client experiencing significant bleeding. However, the priority action is to verify IV access to administer any necessary blood products.
Choice C rationale:
This is the correct choice. Before initiating any interventions, ensuring the client has appropriate IV access is a priority. Adequate IV access is necessary to administer fluids, medications, or blood products promptly and effectively stabilize the client's blood pressure.
Choice D rationale:
Inserting an indwelling urinary catheter is not the priority action in this situation. While monitoring urine output is important, it should be secondary to addressing the client's hypotension and hemorrhage.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Increasing the intake of high-fiber foods is not relevant to addressing the client's dry mouth caused by benztropine. High-fiber foods are commonly recommended for managing constipation, a symptom often associated with Parkinson's disease, but it does not address the issue of dry mouth.
Choice B rationale:
Chewing sugarless gum can stimulate saliva production and help alleviate dry mouth. However, it is not the most appropriate recommendation for a client taking benztropine, as gum-chewing may interfere with the effectiveness of the medication or exacerbate other symptoms.
Choice C rationale:
Moistening the mouth with lemon-glycerin swabs is the most suitable recommendation for a client experiencing dry mouth due to benztropine. Lemon-glycerin swabs can help increase saliva production and provide relief from the discomfort of dry mouth without interfering with the medication's efficacy.
Choice D rationale:
Rinsing the mouth with nystatin is used to treat fungal infections in the mouth (oral thrush) and is not relevant to address the side effect of dry mouth caused by benztropine.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Papilledema refers to swelling of the optic disc in the eye, which can occur due to increased intracranial pressure. While it may be present in cases of basilar skull fracture, it is not a reliable finding for determining the discharge of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Choice B rationale:
The halo sign is a reliable finding for determining that the nasal discharge is cerebrospinal fluid. The halo sign is characterized by a ring of blood surrounded by a clear or yellowish fluid (CSF) on a dressing or tissue. This occurs because blood from the fracture mixes with the clear CSF, creating a distinct appearance.
Choice C rationale:
Racoon's eyes, also known as periorbital ecchymosis, is a term used to describe bruising around the eyes. While it can be seen in basilar skull fractures, it is not specific to cerebrospinal fluid leakage and, therefore, not reliable for identifying the nasal discharge as CSF.
Choice D rationale:
Elevated white blood cells (WBCs) in the nasal discharge can indicate infection, inflammation, or an immune response. However, it does not provide direct evidence that the discharge is cerebrospinal fluid, so this is not a reliable finding for determining the nature of the nasal discharge in this context.
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