A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has hypernatremia. Which of the following interventions should the nurse recommend to include in the plan?

A. Change the dressing on the tracheostomy site: Although changing the dressing is an important part of tracheostomy care, it should be performed after ensuring that the airway is patent and clear. The priority is to maintain an open airway and prevent obstruction.
B. Suction the tracheostomy tube: Suctioning the tracheostomy tube should be performed first to clear any secretions or obstructions that could impair breathing. Ensuring the airway is clear is critical before proceeding with other care tasks.
C. Auscultate the client's lungs: While auscultation is important for assessing lung sounds and the overall respiratory status, it is secondary to ensuring the tracheostomy tube is clear. The priority is to address any potential airway obstructions first.
D. Clean the inner cannula: Cleaning the inner cannula is an essential part of tracheostomy care, but it should be done after ensuring the airway is clear and patent. Prioritizing suctioning ensures that the cannula can be cleaned effectively without interference from secretions.

Rationale
• Assist the client to the bathroom.
• Non-essential: The client’s current condition indicates severe changes, including a significant drop in consciousness and worsening vital signs. Immediate priorities involve stabilization and monitoring rather than assisting with bathroom needs.
• Initiate seizure precautions.
• Anticipated: The client’s deteriorating condition, including restlessness, agitation, and decreased level of consciousness, increases the risk of seizures. Initiating seizure precautions is appropriate to ensure safety.
• Record GCS every 15 min for the first 4 hr.
• Anticipated: The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 9 indicates a significant decrease in consciousness. Frequent monitoring of GCS is crucial to assess changes in neurological status and to guide further intervention.
• Elevate the head of the bed.
• Anticipated: Elevating the head of the bed can help with cerebral perfusion and decrease intracranial pressure. This is a common intervention for clients with neurological issues to improve comfort and safety.
• Keep the client's head in midline position.
• Anticipated: Maintaining a midline position helps ensure optimal cerebral perfusion and reduces the risk of complications. It is particularly important in clients with neurological changes.
• Encourage the client to cough.
• Non-essential: Given the client's current level of consciousness and agitation, encouraging coughing might not be appropriate and could cause further distress or complications.
• Decrease oxygen to 1.5L/min via nasal cannula.
• Contraindicated: The client’s oxygen saturation has dropped to 90% despite receiving 6 L/min of oxygen. Decreasing the oxygen flow could further impair oxygenation. The priority is to maintain or increase oxygen levels to ensure adequate oxygenation.