The nurse assists a patient into which position in preparation for a diagnostic thoracentesis?

A. While documenting the amount of drainage is important, it is not the most urgent action when clear drainage is observed after a transsphenoidal hypophysectomy.
B. Notifying the provider is important but should not be the first step. The nurse should first assess the nature of the drainage, as it could indicate a serious complication, such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage.
C. A culture may be necessary if infection is suspected, but the priority action is to assess whether the drainage is CSF.
D. Checking the drainage for glucose is the most appropriate initial action. Clear drainage from the nasal packing could indicate a CSF leak, which is a complication that can occur after transsphenoidal surgery. CSF contains glucose, so testing for glucose in the drainage will help determine if it is CSF. If glucose is detected, the nurse should immediately notify the provider, as CSF leakage requires prompt intervention.

A. Maintaining an IV of 0.45% sodium chloride would not be appropriate for SIADH because it is a hypotonic solution, and it could exacerbate the already low sodium levels in the patient, potentially worsening hyponatremia.
B. Fluid restriction is the primary treatment for SIADH as it helps reduce water retention, which is causing the dilution of sodium in the blood. Restricting fluid intake to 1,000 mL per day helps manage hyponatremia in these patients.
C. A diet containing 2 g of sodium per day is not typically indicated in SIADH. Restricting fluid is the main focus, and increasing sodium intake can often be counterproductive in SIADH, as the sodium imbalance is primarily due to excessive water retention.
D. Desmopressin acetate is typically used in diabetes insipidus, not SIADH. Desmopressin acts as an antidiuretic hormone (ADH) agonist, which would worsen the water retention in SIADH, not improve it.