An emergency department nurse triages a group of clients who were injured in a school bus crash. Which of the following clients should the nurse have the provider evaluate first?

A. A client who consumes all the food from their meal tray. This is a normal finding and does not require immediate reporting to the nurse. It can be documented by the AP as part of routine care.
B. A client who has a prescription for compression stockings and did not receive them. Compression stockings are a prescribed intervention to prevent complications such as deep vein thrombosis. The nurse must be informed to ensure timely application and follow-up.
C. A client who requests to sit in the bedside chair while watching TV. This is a non-urgent and appropriate activity that does not require nursing intervention unless the client has specific mobility restrictions.
D. A client who requests assistance to use the bedside commode. Assisting with toileting is within the AP’s scope of practice and does not need to be reported unless there is an issue (e.g., change in condition, abnormal findings).

A. "Blurred vision is an expected adverse effect of this medication." Blurred vision is not a common or expected adverse effect of lithium. If this occurs, it may indicate toxicity or another underlying issue and should be reported. It is not part of routine education for expected side effects.
B. "This medication can cause weight gain." This is true. Weight gain is a known long-term adverse effect of lithium therapy and should be discussed with the client and family as part of monitoring and lifestyle considerations during treatment.
C. "This medication can cause nausea and drowsiness." These are common initial side effects when starting lithium and usually subside over time. Clients should be aware of these effects so they can differentiate between expected reactions and signs of toxicity.
D. "It will take at least a week before this medication reaches a therapeutic level." Correct. Lithium takes 7–14 days to reach therapeutic plasma levels, so clients may not experience symptom relief immediately. During this period, supportive care and safety monitoring are essential.
E. "You will be placed on a low-sodium diet while taking this medication." This is incorrect. Lithium has a narrow therapeutic index, and sodium levels affect lithium levels. A low-sodium diet can increase the risk of lithium toxicity, so clients should maintain a consistent sodium intake, not reduce it.