An elderly male patient, who has been experiencing abdominal pain, is admitted to the hospital from a long-term care facility.
He hasn’t had a bowel movement in 7 days, his abdomen is distended, and he recently vomited 150 mL of dark brown emesis.
In what order should the nurse perform the following interventions? Arrange from highest to lowest priority.
Complete a focused assessment.
Offer PRN pain medication.
Send the emesis sample to the lab.
Elevate the head of the bed.
The Correct Answer is A,D,B,C
- Complete a focused assessment: The first step in managing a patient with abdominal pain and other symptoms is to perform a comprehensive assessment. This will help identify the cause of the symptoms and guide subsequent interventions.
- Offer PRN pain medication: Once the immediate risks have been addressed, managing the patient’s pain is a priority. However, the choice of pain medication will depend on the results of the assessment.
- Send the emesis sample to the lab: Sending the emesis sample to the lab can provide valuable information about the cause of the patient’s symptoms. However, this is not as urgent as the other interventions.
- Elevate the head of the bed: Elevating the head of the bed can help reduce the risk of aspiration, especially in a patient who has vomited. This should be done as soon as possible.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C,A,B,D
Explanation
Step 1: Complete a focused assessment. The first step in managing a patient with abdominal pain and distention, vomiting, and constipation is to perform a focused assessment. This includes assessing the patient’s vital signs, pain level, abdominal distention, bowel sounds, and any other relevant physical findings.
Step 2: Elevate the head of the bed. Elevating the head of the bed can help reduce the risk of aspiration, especially in a patient who has recently vomited.
Step 3: Send the emesis sample to the lab. Analyzing the vomitus can provide important information about the possible causes of the patient’s symptoms. For example, the presence of blood could suggest a gastrointestinal bleed.
Step 4: Offer PRN pain medication. After the initial assessment and interventions, the nurse should address the patient’s comfort. Pain management is an important part of patient care, but in this scenario, it is not the highest priority.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
While obtaining a serum drug screen might be helpful in confirming the presence of benzodiazepines or other substances, it is not the most immediate concern in a client experiencing severe agitation and tremors due to withdrawal.
Choice B rationale
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist and would not be effective in managing withdrawal symptoms from benzodiazepines.
Choice C rationale
Seizure precautions should be initiated as withdrawal from benzodiazepines can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms, including seizures. Therefore, ensuring the safety of the client by initiating seizure precautions is the best initial nursing action.
Choice D rationale
While education is an important part of nursing care, in this situation, the client’s immediate physical needs take precedence.
Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.
Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today
Report Wrong Answer on the Current Question
Do you disagree with the answer? If yes, what is your expected answer? Explain.
Kindly be descriptive with the issue you are facing.