When preparing to administer an intravenous medication through a client's triple lumen central venous catheter, the nurse observes that there are no continuous intravenous fluids infusing. Which action should the nurse take?

A. Before going to bed: Bedtime glucose checks may be recommended for some clients, especially those on insulin, but this timing is individualized. It is not universally required for every client with diabetes.

B. During acute illness: Any client with diabetes, regardless of age or type, should monitor glucose closely during acute illness. Illness can cause stress-induced hyperglycemia or unpredictable fluctuations, requiring more frequent testing to guide management.

C. Prior to exercising: Checking glucose before exercise is important for clients at risk of hypoglycemia, especially those using insulin or certain oral agents. However, this is not necessary for all clients, particularly those with type 2 diabetes controlled by diet alone.

D. Immediately after meals: Postprandial monitoring is useful in some cases to evaluate mealtime insulin effectiveness or dietary impact, but it is not universally recommended for every diabetic client. Its use depends on individualized treatment plans.

• Chest pain: Blood clot embolism, especially pulmonary embolism, typically causes sudden chest pain due to obstruction of the pulmonary arteries. Fat embolism rarely causes chest pain as the primary symptom, though hypoxia may lead to discomfort. Chest pain is therefore more indicative of thrombotic embolism.

• Petechiae: Petechiae on the neck, upper chest, and conjunctiva are hallmark signs of fat embolism. They result from occlusion of dermal capillaries by fat globules and platelet aggregation. Blood clot embolism does not usually cause petechiae.

• Origin typically long bone fracture: Fat emboli commonly originate from fractures of long bones such as the femur, tibia, or pelvis. Trauma forces fat from the bone marrow into the bloodstream, creating emboli. Blood clot emboli generally do not arise from bone fractures.

• Altered mental status: Fat embolism can impair cerebral oxygenation, leading to confusion, lethargy, or agitation. This neurological involvement is a distinguishing feature of fat embolism. Blood clot embolism rarely affects mental status unless there is severe hypoxia.

• Dyspnea: Dyspnea occurs in both fat and blood clot embolism due to impaired oxygen exchange in the lungs. In fat embolism, hypoxia may develop gradually, while blood clot embolism often causes sudden shortness of breath. Both conditions require prompt respiratory support.

• Origin typically deep vein thrombosis: Blood clot emboli usually originate from deep veins in the legs or pelvis and travel to the lungs. Fat emboli are not associated with venous thrombi. Identifying the source helps differentiate between the two embolism types.

• Tachycardia: Tachycardia is a compensatory response to hypoxia or stress in both fat and blood clot embolism. It helps maintain oxygen delivery to vital organs. While nonspecific, its presence supports the need for urgent intervention in either condition.