A nurse is documenting client care in the nurses' notes and notices that a space was left blank. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

• Seizures: The client’s symptoms of severe hypertension, persistent headache, hyperreflexia, proteinuria, and low platelet count strongly indicate severe preeclampsia, a condition that can rapidly progress to eclampsia, where seizures occur. This is a critical obstetric emergency requiring immediate intervention to prevent maternal and fetal morbidity.
• Hypoglycemia: The client’s blood glucose level is 85 mg/dL, which is within the normal range. There are no signs such as diaphoresis, confusion, or weakness that would suggest hypoglycemia, and this condition is unrelated to the client's primary diagnosis of severe preeclampsia.
• Cervical insufficiency: Cervical insufficiency typically causes painless cervical dilation and is associated with second-trimester pregnancy losses. The client is at 31 weeks with no reported cervical changes, contractions, or painless dilation, making this complication unlikely in the current clinical scenario.
• Placental abruption: Severe hypertension increases the risk of placental abruption due to damage to the placental blood vessels. Signs of decreased fetal movement and the high-risk profile of preeclampsia support the concern that abruption could occur, leading to serious maternal and fetal compromise.
• Heart failure: Although the client has some edema, there are no other clinical signs such as dyspnea, crackles, or orthopnea that would suggest heart failure. The edema seen here is consistent with preeclampsia rather than decompensated cardiac function.

A. A client who developed a pressure ulcer on the sacrum: The development of a pressure ulcer during hospitalization is considered a preventable adverse event and requires an incident report. It reflects a potential lapse in standard care practices related to skin integrity and client repositioning.

B. A client who refused to take a prescribed stool softener: Clients have the right to refuse medications. This occurrence should be documented in the medical record, but it does not require an incident report since it is an exercise of client autonomy.

C. A client who reported feeling dizzy while ambulating: Feeling dizzy during ambulation should be documented and addressed with safety measures, but if no fall or injury occurred, it typically does not necessitate a formal incident report.

D. A client who received medication 1 hr after it was due: A slight delay in medication administration may need to be documented depending on the medication's importance, but a 1-hour delay, unless involving critical medication like insulin or anticoagulants, usually does not require a formal incident report.