A nurse is reviewing orders for a patient in anaphylactic shock. Which medication should the nurse plan to administer first?

Choice A reason: Papilledema, which is the swelling of the optic disc due to increased ICP, is not typically an early sign. It is usually a later manifestation because it takes time for the pressure to build up and affect the optic nerve.

Choice B reason: Restlessness can be an early sign of increased ICP. As ICP begins to rise, it can cause subtle changes in a person's level of consciousness, leading to agitation or restlessness. This is often one of the first signs that healthcare providers notice when monitoring for changes in neurological status.

Choice C reason: Projectile vomiting may occur with increased ICP, but it is not usually an early sign. It tends to occur after other symptoms such as headache and altered consciousness and is more indicative of significant pressure increases that affect the brainstem.

Choice D reason: Decorticate posturing is a severe sign of brain injury associated with increased ICP but is not an early sign. It indicates significant damage to the brain and is a late and ominous sign in the progression of increased ICP.

Choice A reason: Irrigating the affected eye from the inner corner toward the outer corner is the recommended method for ocular irrigation. This technique helps to flush out the chemical agent without risking further contamination to the other eye or nasal passages.

Choice B reason: Positioning the client sitting up with their head turned toward the right side is appropriate when irrigating the left eye. This position allows gravity to assist in the flow of the irrigation solution away from the unaffected eye, reducing the risk of cross-contamination.

Choice C reason: Placing a strip of pH paper under the upper lid of the affected eye is a critical step in ocular irrigation after a chemical splash. It is used to measure the pH of the ocular surface to ensure that the pH has normalized to a range between 7.0 and 7.2 after irrigation, indicating that the chemical has been adequately flushed out.

Choice D reason: Using sterile water for ocular irrigation is not recommended because it can cause osmotic imbalances and damage to the corneal cells. Instead, normal saline or balanced salt solutions are preferred as they are isotonic and more compatible with the physiological environment of the eye.