A patient admitted with a peptic ulcer has a nasogastric (NG) tube in place. When the patient develops sudden, severe upper abdominal pain, diaphoresis, and a firm abdomen, which action should the nurse take?
Irrigate the NG tube.
Elevate the foot of the bed.
Give the ordered antacid.
Check the vital signs.
The Correct Answer is D
The nurse should quickly assess the patient's vital signs to check for signs of shock and instability. If the vital signs are unstable, the nurse should initiate appropriate interventions to stabilize the patient, such as administering oxygen, starting IV fluids, and providing continuous cardiac monitoring. Based on the sudden onset of severe upper abdominal pain, diaphoresis, and a firm abdomen, the nurse should suspect a possible perforation or bleeding related to the peptic ulcer. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention. Therefore, the nurse should prioritize notifying the healthcare provider and preparing the patient for urgent medical evaluation.
Option A, irrigating the NG tube, is not appropriate in this situation and may further exacerbate the patient's condition if the ulcer has perforated.
Option B, elevating the foot of the bed, is also not appropriate as it does not address the patient's current symptoms.
Option C, giving the ordered antacid, may not be effective in addressing the severity of the patient's symptoms and should be postponed until the healthcare provider has evaluated the patient.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["2"]
Explanation
0.25 mg is equivalent to 250 mcg (micrograms). Therefore, the correct answer would be to give half of a 125 mcg tablet, which would be 0.125 mg or 125 mcg.
Synthroid is a prescription medicine used to treat hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone). Levothyroxine is given when your thyroid does not produce enough of this hormone on its own². The typical starting dosage for this use in adults is 12.5 mcg to 25 mcg, once per day¹. Therefore, if you have Synthroid 125 mcg tablets available and you need to give Synthroid 0.25 mg po, you should give **2 tablets**
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
The correct action for the nurse to take first when preparing to teach a newly diagnosed 43-year-old man with type 2 diabetes home management of the disease is to assess the patient's perception of what it means to have diabetes. This will help the nurse to identify any misconceptions or fears the patient may have about the condition, and tailor the education to meet the patient's specific needs. Options A, C, and D are important components of diabetes education but can be addressed after the nurse has assessed the patient's perception of the disease.
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