A nurse is teaching a class about providing care within the legal scope of practice to a group of nurses.
The nurse should include that which of the following procedures is outside the legal scope of practice for an RN?

Based on the information provided, the following findings require immediate follow-up:

A. Witnessing their family's death: The client witnessing their family's death during the tornado is a traumatic event that may have significant psychological implications. This finding requires immediate attention and further assessment to address the client's emotional well-being.

B. Caregiver reporting client acting differently than usual: The caregiver's concern about the client "not being themselves lately" is important and may indicate changes in the client's behavior or mental state. This requires immediate follow-up to explore the reasons behind the change in behavior.

D. Startles easily during thunderstorm: The client's heightened startle response during thunderstorms may be indicative of increased anxiety or trauma-related symptoms. This finding requires further evaluation and intervention.

G. Smoking marijuana to clear their mind: The client's use of marijuana to cope with their emotions and thoughts indicates maladaptive coping mechanisms. This finding requires immediate follow-up to address substance use and provide appropriate support.

H. Client experiences nightmares: The client's nightmares are likely related to the traumatic event they witnessed, and they may be experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This finding requires immediate attention and assessment to provide appropriate mental health support.

The other findings mentioned (C, E, F) are not concerning based on the information provided and do not require immediate follow-up. However, they may still be relevant for the client's overall assessment and care plan. The nurse should prioritize addressing the immediate mental health and emotional needs of the client, given the recent traumatic experience they went through.

Choice A rationale:

An increase in heart rate by 10 beats per minute when moving from a supine to a sitting position is a normal physiological response to compensate for decreased venous return and maintain cardiac output. This response does not indicate orthostatic hypotension.

Choice B rationale:

An increase in diastolic blood pressure by 10 mm Hg when moving from a supine to a sitting position is a normal response to compensate for the effects of gravity on blood flow. It helps maintain perfusion to vital organs and does not indicate orthostatic hypotension.

Choice C rationale:

Heart palpitations can occur due to various reasons, including anxiety or arrhythmias, but they are not specific signs of orthostatic hypotension. This symptom alone does not confirm the presence of orthostatic hypotension.

Choice D rationale:

A decrease in systolic blood pressure by 25 mm Hg or more when moving from a supine to a sitting position indicates orthostatic hypotension. Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a drop in systolic blood pressure of 20 mm Hg or more or a drop in diastolic blood pressure of 10 mm Hg or more within 3 minutes of standing up. This condition can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting and can be a side effect of antihypertensive medications or other underlying medical conditions.