While taking an adult patient’s pulse, a nurse finds the rate to be 140 beats/min. What should the nurse do next?
Check temperature and SPO2
Report the rate to the primary care provider
Check the pulse again in 2hrs
Record the information
The Correct Answer is A
A. Check temperature and SPO2
When the nurse finds an adult patient's pulse rate to be 140 beats per minute, it is important to assess other vital signs, particularly temperature and oxygen saturation (SPO2). This helps gather additional information to understand the overall clinical picture and assess for potential underlying causes of the elevated heart rate.
B. Report the rate to the primary care provider:
Reporting the heart rate to the primary care provider may be necessary, but it should not be the immediate action. Assessing other vital signs first provides a more comprehensive understanding.
C. Check the pulse again in 2 hours:
Waiting for 2 hours to recheck the pulse is not appropriate when the heart rate is significantly elevated. Immediate action and further assessment are needed.
D. Record the information:
Recording the elevated heart rate is part of documentation, but it should be accompanied by a more comprehensive assessment of vital signs and potential contributing factors.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Documentation is a communication tool for the interprofessional health care team
The purpose of documentation in the electronic health record (EHR) includes serving as a communication tool among members of the interprofessional healthcare team. Accurate and timely documentation allows healthcare providers to share information about the client's care, treatment, and outcomes.
B. Documentation allows providers to monitor the nurse’s activities:
While documentation provides a record of the nurse's activities, the primary purpose is to communicate information about patient care rather than serving as a tool for monitoring the nurse's activities.
C. Documentation provides information to the client about financial charges:
The primary purpose of documentation is to record and communicate information about the client's health status, care, and outcomes. Financial information is typically managed separately from clinical documentation.
D. Documentation provides information for a client audit:
While documentation can be used in audits for quality assurance, the primary purpose is to record and communicate information about patient care. The use of documentation for audits is a secondary function related to quality improvement and regulatory compliance.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Comatose:
Coma refers to a state of deep unconsciousness where the individual is unresponsive to stimuli, including pain or external stimulation. In the scenario described, the patient is not comatose because they can be awakened by gentle shaking and calling their name.
B. Awake and alert:
This term describes a state of full alertness and responsiveness to the environment. The patient in the scenario is not fully awake and alert since they appear drowsy most of the time and require external stimuli to be awakened.
C. Lethargic:
Lethargy is characterized by drowsiness, reduced alertness, and a sluggish response to stimuli. In the scenario, the patient is described as drowsy most of the time but can be awakened by gentle shaking and calling their name. This aligns with the characteristics of lethargy.
D. Stuporous:
Stupor is a state of reduced responsiveness where the individual can be aroused only by vigorous or painful stimuli. The patient in the scenario does not fit the criteria for stupor as they can be awakened by gentle shaking and calling their name.
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