A nurse is caring for an oldest patient.

Exhibits

For each potential provider’s prescription, click to specify if the potential prescription is anticipated or contraindicated for the client.

Choice A reason:

Place a pillow under the client’s head: During a tonic-clonic seizure, it is crucial to protect the client’s head from injury. Placing a pillow or any soft object under the head can help prevent head trauma caused by the convulsions. Ensuring the client’s safety by protecting their head is a primary concern during a seizure.

Choice B reason:

Insert a padded tongue blade into the client’s mouth: This action is incorrect and potentially dangerous. Inserting any object into the mouth during a seizure can cause injury to the teeth, gums, or jaw. It can also obstruct the airway. The myth that a person can swallow their tongue during a seizure is false, and no object should be placed in the mouth.

Choice C reason:

Apply a face mask for oxygen administration: While providing oxygen can be beneficial after the seizure has ended, during the seizure, the priority is to ensure the client’s safety and prevent injury. Applying a face mask during the active phase of a seizure is not practical and can interfere with managing the seizure safely.

Choice D reason:

Gently restrain the client’s extremities: Restraining the client’s extremities during a seizure is not recommended. Attempting to restrain the movements can cause injury to both the client and the nurse. The focus should be on protecting the client from harm without restricting their movements.

Choice A reason:

An infant who has pertussis and is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula: Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can be particularly severe in infants. The fact that the infant is receiving oxygen indicates respiratory distress, which is a critical condition requiring immediate attention. Infants with pertussis are at high risk for complications such as pneumonia, apnea, and respiratory failure. Therefore, this patient should be assessed first to ensure their airway and breathing are adequately supported.

Choice B reason:

A school-age child who has diabetes mellitus and requires blood glucose monitoring: While it is important to monitor blood glucose levels in children with diabetes mellitus to prevent hypo- or hyperglycemia, this condition is generally more stable and manageable compared to the acute respiratory distress seen in the infant with pertussis. Blood glucose monitoring can be scheduled and managed, making it a lower priority in this context.

Choice C reason:

An adolescent who was admitted to the unit in sickle cell crisis and is ready for discharge instructions: Sickle cell crisis can be extremely painful and requires careful management. However, if the adolescent is ready for discharge, it indicates that their condition has stabilized. Providing discharge instructions is important but can be deferred until more critical patients are assessed.

Choice D reason:

A toddler who has both arms in casts and needs to be fed his breakfast: While this toddler requires assistance with feeding due to their casts, this situation does not pose an immediate threat to their health. Feeding can be managed after ensuring that more critical patients, such as the infant with pertussis, are stable.