The nurse in the Emergency Department (ED) assesses a 17-year-old patient with blue-tinged lips, slowed respirations, and pinpoint pupils. The patient has no response to painful stimuli. Which of the following should be the nurse’s priority action?

b. Washes their hands before placing the eye drops

d. Puts the drop from inner to outer canthus

Explanation of Choices

Choice A Reason: Puts the Eye Drops in a Room with Low Lighting

Administering eye drops in a room with low lighting is not a recommended practice. Proper lighting is essential to ensure accurate placement of the drops and to avoid contamination or injury. Low lighting can make it difficult to see the eye and the dropper, increasing the risk of improper administration. Therefore, this action does not indicate correct performance of the skill.

Choice B Reason: Washes Their Hands Before Placing the Eye Drops

Washing hands before administering eye drops is a crucial step to prevent infection and contamination. Clean hands reduce the risk of transferring bacteria or other pathogens to the eye, which can cause infections or other complications. This action is a fundamental part of proper eye drop administration and indicates correct performance of the skill.

Choice C Reason: Uses the Patient’s Iris as a Landmark for Direct Placement of the Drop

Using the patient’s iris as a landmark for direct placement of the drop is incorrect. The proper technique involves pulling down the lower eyelid to create a small pocket (conjunctival sac) and placing the drop into this pocket. Directly aiming for the iris can cause discomfort and increase the risk of injury or contamination. Therefore, this action does not indicate correct performance of the skill.

Choice D Reason: Puts the Drop from Inner to Outer Canthus

Placing the drop from the inner to the outer canthus (corner of the eye) is a correct technique. This method helps ensure that the drop spreads evenly across the eye surface and reduces the risk of contamination. It also helps in preventing the dropper from touching the eye or eyelid, which can introduce bacteria. This action indicates correct performance of the skill.

Choice E Reason: Holds the Upper Eyelid Open When Placing the Drop

Holding the upper eyelid open when placing the drop is not the recommended technique. The proper method involves pulling down the lower eyelid to form a pocket and placing the drop into this pocket. Holding the upper eyelid open can cause discomfort and may not allow the drop to be placed accurately. Therefore, this action does not indicate correct performance of the skill.

The correct answer is d. Splitting.

Choice A Reason: Denial

Denial is a defense mechanism where an individual refuses to accept reality or facts, blocking external events from awareness. While denial can be present in various mental health conditions, it does not specifically explain the client’s sudden shift from idealizing to devaluing the nurse.

Choice B Reason: Separation-individuation

Separation-individuation refers to a developmental process where an individual differentiates themselves from others, particularly caregivers, and develops a sense of self. This concept is more relevant to early childhood development and does not directly explain the client’s behavior in this context.

Choice C Reason: Reaction formation

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism where an individual expresses feelings or behaviors that are opposite to their true feelings or desires. While this can occur in borderline personality disorder, it does not fully capture the client’s extreme shift in perception from positive to negative.

Choice D Reason: Splitting

Splitting is a hallmark characteristic of borderline personality disorder. It involves viewing people or situations in black-and-white terms, as either all good or all bad, with no middle ground. The client’s outburst, shifting from idealizing the nurse to seeing them as hateful, is a classic example of splitting. This defense mechanism helps individuals with borderline personality disorder manage their intense emotions and fears of abandonment.