A nurse is caring for a group of patients. Which patient should the nurse see first?
A patient with hypercapnia wearing an oxygen mask
A patient with a chest tube ambulating with the chest tube unclamped
A patient with thick secretions being tracheal suctioned first and then orally
A patient with a new tracheostomy and tracheostomy obturator at bedside
The Correct Answer is B
A. A patient with hypercapnia requires monitoring, but wearing an oxygen mask indicates some level of intervention is in place.
B. A patient with a chest tube should never ambulate with the chest tube unclamped, as this can lead to a collapsed lung and respiratory distress; thus, this patient should be prioritized.
C. While a patient with thick secretions may need suctioning, this is not as critical as ensuring the safety of a patient with an unclamped chest tube.
D. A patient with a new tracheostomy requires monitoring, but the presence of the obturator indicates readiness for emergencies; this does not take priority over the safety of the patient with the chest tube.
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Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. "Readiness for enhanced urinary elimination" is classified as a health promotion diagnosis, indicating the patient’s desire to improve their health condition and adopt new health behaviors.
B. A risk diagnosis is used when there is a potential for problems to occur, not applicable in this scenario as the patient is actively seeking improvement.
C. A problem-focused diagnosis describes an existing problem that requires intervention; this situation reflects readiness for improvement, not an existing issue.
D. A collaborative problem involves potential complications that require both nursing and medical management; this case focuses on the patient's willingness to learn a self-management skill rather than managing a specific medical problem.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Hyperkalemia can lead to dangerous cardiac arrhythmias and other heart-related complications due to its effect on the electrical conduction system of the heart, making cardiac assessment the priority.
B. While neurological assessment is important in various conditions, it is secondary to assessing cardiac status in hyperkalemia.
C. Gastrointestinal symptoms can occur with hyperkalemia, but they do not pose an immediate life-threatening risk like cardiac issues do.
D. Respiratory assessment is essential in many contexts, but the immediate threat of hyperkalemia lies in its impact on heart function, making cardiac assessment the most critical.