A nurse is reviewing the plan of care for a client experiencing an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. Which of the following treatments should the nurse expect to administer?

Choice A: Obtain the client’s vital signs. This is an important nursing action, but not the priority. The nurse should monitor the client’s vital signs for signs of infection, fluid imbalance, or shock, but these are not as urgent as relieving the client’s pain.

Choice B: Weigh the client. This is a necessary nursing action, but not the priority. The nurse should weigh the client daily to assess their fluid status and nutritional needs, but this can be done after addressing the client’s pain.

Choice C: Administer pain medication. This is the priority nursing action because the nurse should follow the principle of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and address the client’s physiological needs first. Pain can interfere with the client’s healing process and affect their quality of life.

Choice D: Change the client’s dressing. This is a required nursing action, but not the priority. The nurse should change the client’s dressing to prevent infection and promote wound healing, but this can be done after administering pain medication to make the procedure more comfortable for the client.

Choice A: Implement neutropenia isolation. This is not an action that the nurse should take for a client who has developed a Clostridium difficile infection. Neutropenia isolation is a type of protective isolation that is used for

clients who have low white blood cell counts and are at risk of infection from others. It is not indicated for clients who have Clostridium difficile infection, which is not transmited through the air.

Choice B: Use alcohol hand sanitizer following client care. This is not an action that the nurse should take for a client who has developed a Clostridium difficile infection. Alcohol hand sanitizer is ineffective against Clostridium difficile spores and can increase the risk of transmission. The nurse should wash their hands with soap and water, which can remove the spores from the skin.

Choice C: Monitor the client for manifestations of fluid overload. This is not an action that the nurse should take for a client who has developed a Clostridium difficile infection. Fluid overload is a condition that occurs when the body retains excess fluid and causes symptoms such as edema, dyspnea, and hypertension. It is not related to Clostridium difficile infection, which can cause fluid loss due to diarrhea and dehydration. The nurse should monitor the client for manifestations of fluid deficit, such as dry mucous membranes, tachycardia, and hypotension.

Choice D: Disinfect equipment with bleach solution. This is an action that the nurse should take for a client who has developed a Clostridium difficile infection, which is a bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea and inflammation of the colon. Clostridium difficile spores are resistant to most disinfectants and can survive on surfaces for a long time. The nurse should disinfect equipment with bleach solution, which can kill the spores and prevent transmission.