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 A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Verifying the placement of the pulse oximeter is the first step to ensure the accuracy of the oxygen saturation reading. An incorrect placement can lead to inaccurate readings, and addressing this issue can help determine if further interventions are needed.
Choice B rationale
Increasing the oxygen to 3 L/minute may be necessary if the oxygen saturation remains low after verifying the pulse oximeter placement. However, this should be done after ensuring the accuracy of the initial reading.
Choice C rationale
Switching to a non-rebreather mask is not the immediate action to take. Non-rebreather masks deliver a high concentration of oxygen, typically reserved for severe hypoxia. The patient’s oxygen saturation is low, but not critically low.
Choice D rationale
Removing the nasal cannula is not appropriate as it would further decrease the oxygen supply to the patient. The goal is to improve oxygenation, not reduce it.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
A urine specific gravity of 1.015 is within the normal range and does not indicate dehydration. Dehydration typically results in a higher urine specific gravity due to the concentration of solutes in the urine.
Choice B rationale
A urine specific gravity of 1.005 is lower than normal and indicates dilute urine, which is not consistent with dehydration. Dehydration would result in more concentrated urine with a higher specific gravity.
Choice C rationale
A urine specific gravity of 1.035 indicates highly concentrated urine, which is consistent with dehydration. When a client has a history of vomiting and diarrhea, they are likely to be dehydrated, leading to a higher urine specific gravity.
Choice D rationale
A urine specific gravity of 1.025 is slightly higher than normal but not as high as 1.035. While it may indicate some level of concentration, it is not as indicative of severe dehydration as a specific gravity of 1.035.