A nurse is preparing to administer vancomycin IV to an adult client. The client asks the nurse if the medication can be given 2 hr earlier. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

The correct answer is c. Remove the cap and place it sterile-side up on a clean surface.

Choice A rationale:

Placing sterile gauze over areas of spilled solution within the sterile field is incorrect. If solution is spilled within the sterile field, the entire field should be considered contaminated and a new sterile field should be set up

Choice B rationale:

Holding the irrigation solution bottle with the label facing away from the palm of the hand is incorrect. The label should face the palm of the hand to avoid contamination of the sterile field

Choice C rationale:

Removing the cap and placing it sterile-side up on a clean surface is correct. This ensures that the sterile side of the cap remains sterile and can be used to recap the bottle after pouring the solution

Choice D rationale:

Holding the bottle in the center of the sterile field when pouring the solution is incorrect. The bottle should be held over the edge of the sterile field to avoid contamination of the field if solution spills

This is because the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a tool to assess the level of consciousness and neurological status of a client who has a closed head injury. The GCS score can help guide the priority of interventions and the need for further diagnostic tests.
Choice A is wrong because an MRI of the brain is not the first action to take for a client who has a closed head injury. An MRI may be indicated later to evaluate the extent of brain damage, but it is not an emergency procedure.
Choice B is wrong because mannitol IV bolus is a medication that reduces intracranial pressure (ICP) by drawing fluid out of the brain tissue. However, mannitol should not be administered before confirming the presence and degree of increased ICP, which can be done by measuring the GCS score and other vital signs.
Choice D is wrong because inserting an indwelling urinary catheter for the client is not the first action to take for a client who has a closed head injury. A urinary catheter may be needed to monitor fluid balance and renal function, but it is not an urgent intervention.