An elderly male patient in his early 70s is admitted to the emergency department due to a COPD exacerbation.
The patient is having difficulty breathing and the healthcare team is preparing for endotracheal intubation.
The patient’s wife, who is 30 years younger, asks the nurse to halt the procedure and presents the nurse with a copy of the patient’s living will.
What should the nurse’s next step be?

Choice A rationale

Assisting the spouse and carefully giving the patient small sips of water may seem like a compassionate action. However, it could potentially lead to aspiration if the patient’s swallowing reflex is compromised, which is common in stroke patients.

Choice B rationale

While obtaining thickening powder before providing any more fluids can help prevent aspiration in patients with dysphagia, it is not the immediate action the nurse should take. The nurse first needs to assess the patient’s swallowing reflex before deciding on the appropriate intervention.

Choice C rationale

The nurse should ask the spouse to stop and assess the patient’s swallowing reflex. This is the most immediate and appropriate action. Stroke patients often have impaired swallowing reflexes, which can lead to aspiration if not properly managed. By assessing the swallowing reflex, the nurse can determine the best course of action to ensure the patient’s safety.

Choice D rationale

Giving the spouse a straw to help facilitate the patient’s drinking is not the best course of action. Straws can increase the risk of aspiration in patients with impaired swallowing reflexes. The nurse should first assess the patient’s swallowing reflex before deciding on the appropriate intervention.

The findings suggest that the client’s condition has improved.

Choice A rationale

A total blood loss of 800 mL is a significant amount, but it is within the normal range for blood loss during and after childbirth. Therefore, this does not necessarily put the client at risk for hypovolemia.

Choice B rationale

A fundus that is firm and at the level of the umbilicus indicates that the uterus is contracting properly after childbirth, which helps to prevent excessive bleeding.

Choice C rationale

The expulsion of multiple large clots could indicate that the body is effectively clotting blood, which can prevent excessive bleeding.

Choice D rationale

A blood pressure of 110/80 mm Hg, a heart rate of 66 beats/minute, and an oxygen saturation of 98% on room air are all within normal ranges, indicating that the client is stable and not at risk for hypovolemia.