A nurse is caring for a client who requires seclusion to prevent harm to others on the unit.
Which of the following is an appropriate action for the nurse to take?
Discuss with the client his inappropriate behavior prior to seclusion
Offer fluids every 2 hr.
Document the client’s behavior prior to being placed in seclusion.
Assess the client’s behavior once every hour.
The Correct Answer is C
The correct answer is c. Document the client's behavior prior to being placed in seclusion.
Rationale for Choice a. Discuss with the client his inappropriate behavior prior to seclusion:
While discussing the client's behavior may be helpful in some situations, it is not the most appropriate action to take immediately before seclusion. This is because:
- Escalation: Attempting to discuss behavior in the moments leading up to seclusion can potentially escalate the situation and further jeopardize the safety of the client, staff, and other patients.
- Impaired Insight: Clients requiring seclusion may have limited ability to engage in rational discussion due to heightened emotional states, cognitive impairment, or acute mental illness.
- Limited Receptiveness: The client may not be receptive to feedback or discussion while in a state of crisis, potentially leading to frustration and further agitation.
Rationale for Choice b. Offer fluids every 2 hr.:
Offering fluids is a basic nursing intervention, but it is not the priority action in this scenario. The primary focus at this time is ensuring safety and managing the acute behavioral crisis. Addressing hydration needs can be attended to after the client is safely placed in seclusion.
Rationale for Choice d. Assess the client’s behavior once every hour.:
Regular assessment is crucial, but hourly assessment is not frequent enough in this situation. Clients in seclusion require close monitoring and assessment at more frequent intervals to ensure their safety and well-being, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of the seclusion intervention.
Rationale for Choice c. Document the client’s behavior prior to being placed in seclusion.:
This is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take for the following reasons:
- Legal and Ethical Requirements: Accurate documentation of the client's behavior prior to seclusion is essential for legal and ethical reasons. It serves as a record of the rationale for seclusion, supporting the decision-making process and ensuring adherence to best practices and patient rights.
- Assessment and Intervention Planning: Detailed documentation provides valuable information for ongoing assessment and intervention planning. It allows healthcare professionals to track the client's progress, identify patterns in behavior, and make informed decisions about the continuation or discontinuation of seclusion.
- Communication and Collaboration: Comprehensive documentation facilitates effective communication and collaboration among the healthcare team members, ensuring continuity of care and promoting a holistic approach to the client's treatment.
- Evaluation and Quality Improvement: Accurate documentation enables evaluation of the effectiveness of seclusion interventions and contributes to quality improvement initiatives within the healthcare setting.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
The correct answer is choice B. Applying an orthotic to the client’s foot.
An orthotic is a device that supports or corrects the function of a body part.
In this case, an orthotic can help prevent foot drop, which is a common contracture deformity in immobile patients.
Foot drop occurs when the muscles that lift the foot become weak or paralyzed, causing the foot to hang down at the ankle. An orthotic can keep the foot in a neutral position and prevent shortening of the calf muscles and Achilles tendon.
Choice A is wrong because a trochanter wedge is used to prevent external rotation of the hip, not contracture. A trochanter wedge is a triangular-shaped pillow that is placed between the legs to keep them parallel and aligned.
Choice C is wrong because a towel roll under the neck is used to maintain proper cervical alignment, not contracture. A towel roll can prevent hyperextension of the neck and support the natural curve of the spine.
Choice D is wrong because a pillow under the knees can actually cause contracture of the knee joint by keeping it in a flexed position. A pillow under the knees can also reduce blood flow to the lower extremities and increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis.
Contracture is a permanent tightening of the muscles, tendons, skin, and surrounding tissues that causes the joints to shorten and stiffen.
Contracture can limit the range of motion and function of the affected body part. Contracture can be caused by inactivity, scarring, or diseases that affect the muscles or nerves. Prevention of contractures requires early diagnosis and initiation of physical medicine approaches such as passive range of motion exercises and splinting before contractures are present or while contractures are mild.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A. Measure gastric residual volumes every 4 hr.
This is because continuous enteral feedings through an NG tube can increase the risk of aspiration, which is the inhalation of food or fluids into the lungs. Measuring gastric residual volumes (GRV) can help monitor the tolerance and absorption of the feedings and prevent overfeeding. GRV is the amount of fluid aspirated from the stomach via an enteral tube to check for gastric emptying. The normal range of GRV is less than 200 ml.
Choice B is wrong because advancing the rate of the feeding every 2 hr can lead to overfeeding, abdominal distension, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
The rate of the feeding should be adjusted according to the client’s nutritional needs and tolerance.
Choice C is wrong because maintaining the head of the bed at a 20° angle is not enough to prevent aspiration. The head of the bed should be elevated at least 30° to 45° during and for at least one hour after feeding.
Choice D is wrong because flushing the NG tube with 30 mL 0.9% sodium chloride before and after medication is not related to continuous enteral feedings. This is a practice to prevent clogging of the tube and ensure proper delivery of medication. Flushing the tube with water before and after feeding is also recommended to maintain patency and hydration.
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