A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving continuous bladder irrigation following a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The client reports sharp lower abdominal pain. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

This is because older adults are at increased risk of hypothermia, which is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when the body temperature drops below 35° C (95° F).

Hypothermia can cause confusion, drowsiness, slurred speech, slow heartbeat, shallow breathing, and loss of consciousness. Some factors that increase the risk of hypothermia in older adults are low indoor temperature, inadequate clothing, poor nutrition, chronic illness, medication use, and social isolation.

The nurse should contact the local Department of Health and Human Services for the client to help them access resources and programs that can assist them with paying their heating bills or finding alternative housing options. The nurse should also educate the client on how to prevent hypothermia by wearing warm clothing, eating well-balanced meals, drinking warm fluids, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, and staying active.

This is because the client is experiencing bradycardia, which is a slow heart rate of less than 60/min. Bradycardia can cause decreased cardiac output, which can lead to symptoms such as tremors, fainting, dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, and hypotension. Some causes of bradycardia are sinus node dysfunction, atrioventricular block, medication side effects, hypothyroidism, hypothermia, and increased vagal tone.

The nurse should anticipate administering atropine sulfate, which is an anticholinergic drug that blocks the action of the vagus nerve on the heart and increases the heart rate and conduction. Atropine sulfate is the first-line drug for symptomatic bradycardia and can be given intravenously or intramuscularly. The nurse should monitor the client's vital signs, cardiac rhythm, and response to the medication. The nurse should also prepare for other interventions, such as transcutaneous pacing or permanent pacemaker insertion, if atropine sulfate is ineffective or contraindicated.