While conducting an admission assessment of a female client with bipolar disorder, the client suddenly starts to undress and throw her clothes around the room.
What should be the nurse’s initial action?

Choice A rationale

Monitoring the patient’s cardiac activity via telemetry is the most important intervention for a patient with acute renal failure (ARF), uncontrolled type 1 diabetes mellitus, and hyperkalemia who is receiving an IV dose of regular insulin. Hyperkalemia can cause cardiac arrhythmias and other cardiac complications. Therefore, continuous cardiac monitoring is crucial to detect any changes in heart rhythm or rate that could indicate worsening hyperkalemia.
Choice B rationale
While assessing glucose via fingerstick every 4 to 6 hours is important for a patient with uncontrolled type 1 diabetes mellitus, it is not the most important intervention in this scenario. The patient’s hyperkalemia and ARF pose more immediate risks.
Choice C rationale
Evaluating hourly urine output for return of normal renal function is an important part of monitoring a patient with ARF34. However, in the context of hyperkalemia and the administration of insulin, cardiac monitoring is more critical.
Choice D rationale
Maintaining venous access with an infusion of normal saline is a standard nursing intervention for most hospitalized patients, but it is not the most important intervention in this scenario.

The correct answer is A. Ventilation, B. Neurological status, C. Exposure, F. Circulation.

Choice A: Ventilation Ventilation is a crucial part of the primary survey in trauma assessment. It involves assessing the patient’s respiratory rate and effort, use of accessory muscles, cyanosis, and chest wall movement. The normal respiratory rate for adults is between 12-20 breaths per minute.

Choice B: Neurological status Neurological status is another vital component of the primary survey. It often involves assessing the patient’s level of consciousness, often using tools like the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The GCS score can range from 3 (completely unresponsive) to 15 (responsive).

Choice C: Exposure Exposure involves removing the patient’s clothing to check for any hidden injuries. It’s an essential step in trauma assessment, but there’s no “normal range” for this as it’s a process rather than a measurable variable.

Choice D: Current medications While knowing a patient’s current medications is important in managing their care, it’s not typically part of the primary survey in trauma assessment. This information is usually gathered during the secondary survey.

Choice E: Allergies Like current medications, information about allergies is also crucial in managing patient care, but it’s not part of the primary survey. This information is usually collected during the secondary survey.

Choice F: Circulation Circulation is a critical part of the primary survey. It involves checking the patient’s heart rate, blood pressure, capillary refill time, and looking for any signs of external bleeding. The normal resting heart rate can range between 60-99 beats per minute.