A nurse is collecting data from a client who has a long leg cast on his left leg. Which of the following findings is the priority?

This situation involves a medication error that could potentially harm the client, and it should be reported through an incident report.

The following examples may not require an incident report:

A nurse discovers that a client's family member has administered a PCA dose. PCA (Patient-Controlled Analgesia) is a method of pain management that allows the client to self-administer pain medication within predetermined limits. If a family member administers the PCA dose without proper authorization or understanding, it is a safety concern that should be reported.

A nurse observes a client vomiting after receiving an oral pain medication. While this situation should be assessed and managed appropriately, it does not necessarily warrant an incident report unless there are additional factors or complications involved.

A nurse observes another nurse remove wrist restraints one at a time from a client who is currently calm. This situation may raise concerns regarding proper restraint removal techniques or potential safety issues, but it does not inherently indicate an immediate need for an incident report. However, if the nurse's actions were contrary to policy or posed a risk to the client's safety, it should be reported.

The correct answer is: a. Temperature 38.8° C (101.8° F)

Title: Choice A reason: A temperature of 38.8° C (101.8° F) is indicative of a fever, which is a common symptom of a hemolytic transfusion reaction. During such a reaction, the immune system attacks the transfused red blood cells, leading to their destruction and the release of substances that can cause a rise in body temperature.

Title: Choice B reason: Straw-colored urine is not typically associated with a hemolytic transfusion reaction. Hemolytic reactions often result in darker urine due to the presence of free hemoglobin released from destroyed red blood cells.

Title: Choice C reason: An apical pulse rate of 58/min is considered bradycardia if it is lower than the normal resting heart rate for adults, which ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. Bradycardia is not a direct indicator of a hemolytic transfusion reaction.

Title: Choice D reason: Elevated blood pressure, such as 158/92 mm Hg, can be a sign of various conditions but is not a specific indicator of a hemolytic transfusion reaction. The symptoms of such a reaction are more directly related to the destruction of red blood cells and the body’s response to it.