The nurse is caring for a patient with the following vital signs:
Temperature: 98.9°F
Pulse: 94
Respirations: 20
Blood pressure: 144/94
Pulse oximetry: 94%
What is the priority action of the nurse?

Choice A reason: This is correct. The patient must hold on to the railing when ambulating in the hallway indicates that the patient is experiencing difficulty with proprioception. Proprioception is the body's ability to sense its own position, movement, and spatial orientation. It helps the patient maintain balance and coordination. If the patient has impaired proprioception, they may feel unsteady or fall when walking without support.

Choice B reason: This is incorrect. The patient must add extra seasoning to food in order for it to have any flavor does not indicate that the patient is experiencing difficulty with proprioception. This may indicate that the patient has a reduced sense of taste, which can be caused by various factors, such as aging, medication, infection, or smoking. It does not affect the patient's perception of their body or movement.

Choice C reason: This is incorrect. The patient suffered a first-degree burn when a heating pad was left on too long does not indicate that the patient is experiencing difficulty with proprioception. This may indicate that the patient has a reduced sense of pain or temperature, which can be caused by nerve damage, diabetes, or spinal cord injury. It does not affect the patient's perception of their body or movement.

Choice D reason: This is incorrect. The patient did not smell smoke even though the smoke detector was alarming does not indicate that the patient is experiencing difficulty with proprioception. This may indicate that the patient has a reduced sense of smell, which can be caused by nasal congestion, allergy, infection, or head injury. It does not affect the patient's perception of their body or movement.

Choice A reason: This is a correct choice because providing personal hygiene before bedtime is an appropriate nursing intervention to promote adequate sleep for a patient who suffers from a sleep pattern disturbance. This intervention can help the patient to feel more comfortable, relaxed, and refreshed, and to reduce the risk of infection or skin breakdown.

Choice B reason: This is a correct choice because synchronizing the schedule for medications and vital signs is an appropriate nursing intervention to promote adequate sleep for a patient who suffers from a sleep pattern disturbance. This intervention can help the patient to have uninterrupted sleep cycles, and to avoid unnecessary disturbances or discomforts from frequent assessments or treatments.

Choice C reason: This is an incorrect choice because administering sleep aids every night at the same time is not an appropriate nursing intervention to promote adequate sleep for a patient who suffers from a sleep pattern disturbance. This intervention can cause dependence, tolerance, or adverse effects from the sleep aids, and may not address the underlying cause of the sleep problem. The nurse should use non-pharmacological methods to promote sleep, and administer sleep aids only as prescribed and indicated.

Choice D reason: This is a correct choice because assisting the patient to use the toilet before bed is an appropriate nursing intervention to promote adequate sleep for a patient who suffers from a sleep pattern disturbance. This intervention can help the patient to avoid nocturia, which is the need to urinate at night, and to prevent urinary tract infections or incontinence.

Choice E reason: This is a correct choice because straightening and changing any soiled bed linens is an appropriate nursing intervention to promote adequate sleep for a patient who suffers from a sleep pattern disturbance. This intervention can help the patient to maintain a clean, dry, and comfortable sleeping environment, and to prevent skin irritation or infection.