An elderly patient has been admitted with a suspected stroke.
The patient has facial paralysis and is unable to move the left side of their body.
Upon entering the room, the nurse observes the patient’s spouse attempting to give the patient a drink of water, but struggling.
What should the nurse’s next course of action be?
Assist the spouse and carefully give the patient small sips of water.
Obtain thickening powder before providing any more fluids.
Ask the spouse to stop and assess the patient’s swallowing reflex.
Give the spouse a straw to help facilitate the patient’s drinking.
The Correct Answer is C
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.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","D","F"]
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Assisting the client to the bathroom is appropriate as clonazepam can cause dizziness and unsteadiness, increasing the risk of falls.
Choice B rationale
Having an opioid agonist at the bedside is not necessary for a client starting clonazepam. Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine, not an opioid.
Choice C rationale
Providing oral care at least twice a day is generally good practice for all patients, but it’s not specifically related to clonazepam use.
Choice D rationale
Assessing mental status regularly is crucial as clonazepam can cause changes in mood and behavior.
Choice E rationale
Monitoring calcium levels is not typically required for a client starting clonazepam.
Choice F rationale
Screening for orthostatic hypotension is important as clonazepam can lower blood pressure, leading to dizziness and fainting when the client stands up.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Determining the amount of weight the patient has lost since increasing activity is relevant to the patient’s overall health and progress toward weight loss goals, but it does not directly address the issue of sleep difficulties. Weight loss and improved sleep may not always have a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
Choice B rationale
Inquiring about the patient’s exercise schedule is a reasonable action. It allows the nurse to gather information about the patient’s exercise routine and assess whether it might be contributing to the sleep difficulties. For instance, exercising too close to bedtime can interfere with sleep. Therefore, understanding the timing and intensity of the patient’s exercise can provide valuable insights into potential adjustments that could improve sleep quality.
Choice C rationale
Informing the patient that lifestyle changes often take several weeks to be effective is a general statement that might not address the specific concerns of the patient. While it’s true that lifestyle changes, including exercise, can take time to show results, this does not provide a targeted solution to the patient’s reported difficulty in falling asleep.
Choice D rationale
Encouraging the patient to exercise daily to reduce bedtime wakefulness is not appropriate advice in this scenario. It oversimplifies the issue and may not address the underlying causes of the patient’s sleep difficulties. Additionally, excessive exercise close to bedtime may actually interfere with sleep.
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