A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is dependent on nicotine and wishes to discontinue smoking. The nurse should inform the client that which of the following is a manifestation of nicotine withdrawal?

The client's symptoms of feeling dizzy, having a racing heart, and becoming pale while lying on their back are consistent with supine hypotension syndrome, also known as vena cava syndrome. This occurs when the weight of the uterus compresses the inferior vena cava, reducing blood flow and causing symptoms.

To address this issue, the nurse should Position the client on their left side. Lying on the left side helps relieve the pressure on the inferior vena cava and improves blood flow. This can alleviate the symptoms and prevent further complications.

Instructing the client to take a brisk walk is not appropriate in this situation, as it may exacerbate the symptoms by increasing heart rate and potentially causing further dizziness or fainting. Checking the client's temperature is not necessary in relation to these symptoms, as they are not indicative of a fever or infection.

Providing the client with a glass of orange juice may be helpful in some situations, such as if the client is experiencing hypoglycemia. However, in this case, the symptoms are likely due to supine hypotension syndrome, and repositioning the client is the priority intervention.

Explanation:

When a charge nurse observes the smell of alcohol on a nurse's breath, it raises concerns about their ability to provide safe and competent care to clients. Patient safety is of utmost importance, and the charge nurse must take immediate action to address the situation.

Removing the nurse from the client care area ensures that the nurse is not involved in direct patient care while their ability to provide safe care is in question. This step helps mitigate potential risks to patient safety.

B and D- After removing the nurse from the client care area, further actions can be taken, such as documenting the objective findings about the situation and informing the supervisor. However, the immediate priority is to ensure patient safety by removing the nurse from the care area.

A- Assigning clients to the remaining staff can be done once the situation has been addressed and a suitable replacement for the nurse has been arranged.