A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has type 1 diabetes mellitus and her partner about how to manage severe hypoglycemia at home. Which of the following actions should the nurse instruct the partner to perform first?
Offer the client a small meal if she is not nauseated.
Administer 1 mg of glucagon intramuscularly to the client.
Contact the client's provider for further instructions
Transport the client to an emergency department for treatment.
The Correct Answer is B
A) Offer the client a small meal if she is not nauseated:
While eating a small meal can help raise blood glucose levels, it is not the immediate priority in a severe hypoglycemia situation. The client might be unconscious or unable to swallow safely, making this action inappropriate as a first step.
B) Administer 1 mg of glucagon intramuscularly to the client:
Administering glucagon intramuscularly is the most crucial initial action. Glucagon rapidly increases blood glucose levels by stimulating glycogen breakdown in the liver. This is vital for quickly reversing severe hypoglycemia, especially if the client is unconscious or unable to ingest carbohydrates orally.
C) Contact the client's provider for further instructions:
Contacting the provider is essential, but it should occur after addressing the immediate hypoglycemic episode. Once the client's condition stabilizes, further guidance can be sought from the healthcare provider.
D) Transport the client to an emergency department for treatment:
Transporting the client to the emergency department is necessary if the hypoglycemia does not improve after administering glucagon or if the client remains unresponsive. However, it is not the first action; immediate glucagon administration takes precedence to stabilize the client's condition before considering transportation.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A) Talk about the special features of the baby with the client: This intervention acknowledges the baby as a real person and can provide comfort to the grieving parents by validating their loss and giving them a chance to create memories, which is an important aspect of the grieving process.
B) Post a sign indicating No Visitors: This may not be appropriate as it might isolate the client further. Some parents may want the support of family and friends during this difficult time, and such a restriction should be based on the parents' wishes rather than a standard protocol.
C) Limit the amount of time the client is allowed to have the baby in her room: Allowing parents to spend as much time as they need with their baby can help them with the grieving process. Placing limits might be perceived as insensitive and could hinder the emotional healing process.
D) Tell the parents they should hold their baby: While many parents find comfort in holding their stillborn baby, it should be offered as a choice rather than a directive. It is important to respect the parents' individual coping mechanisms and provide support based on their preferences.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Positive leukocyte esterase is a laboratory finding typically identified during a urinalysis to screen for the presence of white blood cells. While this may indicate a urinary tract infection or renal calculi, it is not a diagnostic marker for an inflamed appendix. In appendicitis, the primary biochemical changes are systemic rather than localized to the urinary excretion system. The nurse would not expect this specific finding to confirm a diagnosis of appendiceal inflammation.
B. Increased pain upon the sudden release of deep abdominal palpation is known as rebound tenderness or Blumberg sign. This clinical phenomenon occurs when the parietal peritoneum is irritated due to the inflammatory process of the adjacent appendix. It is one of the most reliable physical examination findings for identifying peritoneal irritation associated with acute appendicitis. The nurse should expect this reaction during the provider's assessment of the right lower quadrant.
C. A white blood cell (WBC) count of 9,500 mm3 falls within the standard physiological reference range for a healthy adult. In a client with acute appendicitis, the nurse would instead expect to see significant leukocytosis, typically exceeding 10,000 to 18,000 mm3. This elevation in the leukocyte count reflects the body's systemic inflammatory response to the localized infection. A normal count like 9,500 mm3 would be atypical for a client with an actively inflamed appendix.
D. Pain from flexion of the left thigh while lying on the right side is not a characteristic sign of appendicitis. The psoas sign, which is associated with appendicitis, involves pain upon extension or flexion of the right thigh, as the appendix sits in the right iliac fossa. Flexing the left thigh does not cause the anatomical tension required to irritate an inflamed appendix. This finding would suggest a different pathology or involve an unaffected anatomical region.
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