A hospitalized client who has an advance directive and healthcare power of attorney is receiving enteral nutrition through a nasogastric (NG) tube. The client vomits and appears to be choking. Which action should the nurse take?
Review the advanced directive document.
Irrigate the nasogastric tube with water.
Elevate the head of the bed 45 degrees.
Perform oropharyngeal suctioning.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
Reviewing the advanced directive document is not an immediate action to address the client’s choking and vomiting. The priority is to clear the airway and prevent aspiration.
Choice B rationale
Irrigating the nasogastric tube with water is not appropriate in this situation as it may worsen the choking and does not address the immediate need to clear the airway.
Choice C rationale
Elevating the head of the bed 45 degrees helps to clear the airway and reduce the risk of aspiration by using gravity to keep the stomach contents down.
Choice D rationale
Performing oropharyngeal suctioning may stimulate gagging and vomiting, which can exacerbate the choking.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Placing the vial with the remainder of the medication into a locked drawer is not appropriate because it does not ensure proper documentation and accountability for the remaining medication. Controlled substances require strict documentation and disposal procedures.
Choice B rationale
Withdrawing the medication into a syringe and labeling it with the client’s name is not necessary and can lead to errors or contamination. The medication should not be stored for future use in this manner.
Choice C rationale
Asking another nurse to witness the medication being discarded is the correct action. This ensures proper documentation, accountability, and compliance with regulations for the disposal of unused or remaining medications, especially controlled substances.
Choice D rationale
Throwing the vial into the trash in the presence of another nurse is not appropriate. It does not ensure proper documentation, accountability, or safe disposal of the remaining medication. Controlled substances require specific disposal procedures to prevent misuse or diversion.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Negligence would require proof that the nurse failed to act in a manner consistent with their training and that this failure directly caused harm to the victim. In this case, the nurse provided assistance and then left the scene after EMS arrived, which does not constitute negligence.
Choice B rationale
Assault and battery involve intentional harm or offensive contact, which is not applicable in this scenario as the nurse was providing assistance.
Choice C rationale
The Good Samaritan laws are designed to protect individuals who provide assistance at the scene of an emergency from legal liability, provided they act in good faith and within the scope of their training. In this scenario, the nurse acted to help the victim and then left the scene after EMS arrived, which is generally protected under Good Samaritan laws.
Choice D rationale
Abandonment would require that the nurse left the victim without ensuring that they were in the care of another competent individual. Since the nurse left after EMS arrived, this does not constitute abandonment.