An older male client is admitted with the medical diagnosis of a possible cerebral vascular accident (CVA). He has facial paralysis and cannot move his left side.

When entering the room, the nurse finds the client's wife tearful and trying unsuccessfully to give him a drink of water.

Which action should the nurse take?

The correct answer is choice d. Activate the lockdown procedure.

Choice A rationale:

Asking the mother if any visitors were expected to arrive is important for gathering information, but it is not the immediate priority when a newborn is missing. The primary concern is to ensure the safety and security of the infant.

Choice B rationale:

Matching ID bands of all infants and mothers on the unit is a crucial step in verifying the identity of the newborn, but it should be done after ensuring that the unit is secure and the baby cannot be taken out of the facility.

Choice C rationale:

Determining if the newborn is in the nursery is also important, but it should be done after securing the unit to prevent any potential abduction.

Choice D rationale:

Activating the lockdown procedure is the first and most critical action. This ensures that all exits are secured, preventing anyone from leaving the unit with the infant. It is a safety measure to protect the newborn and is the immediate priority in such situations.

- A terminally ill client is a client who has a progressive and incurable disease or condition that is expected to result in death within a short period of time, such as months or weeks. A terminally ill client may require palliative care, which is the care that focuses on relieving pain and suffering and improving the quality of life for the client and their family.

- An admission assessment is the process of collecting information about a client's health status, needs, preferences, and goals when they are admited to a health care facility, such as a hospital, nursing home, or hospice. An admission assessment helps to establish a baseline for the client's condition, plan and implement appropriate interventions, and evaluate the outcomes of care.

- A health care proxy is a legal document that allows a client to appoint another person, such as a family member or a friend, to make health care decisions for them if they become unable to do so themselves. A health care proxy may also include specific instructions or preferences about the type and extent of care that the client wishes to receive or refuse, such as life-sustaining treatments, resuscitation, or organ donation.

- Health care proxy documentation is an important information that the practical nurse (PN) should collect during the admission assessment of a terminally ill client to an acute care facility, as it reflects the client's autonomy, dignity, and wishes regarding their end-of-life care. It also helps to ensure that the client's healthcare decisions are respected and followed by the healthcare team and the facility.

- Therefore, option A is the correct answer, while options B, C, and D are incorrect.

Option B is incorrect because the name of the funeral home to contact is not relevant or necessary for the admission assessment of a terminally ill client, as it does not affect their health status or care plan.

Option C is incorrect because the client's wishes regarding organ donation may be included in their health care proxy documentation, but they are not required or essential for the admission assessment of a terminally ill client.

Option D is incorrect because the contact information for the client's next of kin may be useful for communication and support purposes, but it is not as important as the health care proxy documentation for the admission assessment of a terminally ill client.