A nurse is caring for four clients who are postoperative from surgery 24 hr ago. At 1200 the nurse assesses the clients. Which of the following clients is the nurse's priority?
A client who reports pain as 4 on a scale of 1 to 10 at 0800 now reports pain as 6
A client whose wound drainage at 0800 was sanguineous and now it is serosanguineous
A client who has a prescription for insulin and his premeal capillary blood glucose was 110 mg/dL and his post-meal capillary blood glucose is now 160 mg/dL
A client whose blood pressure at 0800 was 138/86 mm Hg and at 1200 is 106/60 mm Hg
The Correct Answer is D
Rationale:
A. A client who reports pain as 4 on a scale of 1 to 10 at 0800 now reports pain as 6 needs pain management, but this is less urgent compared to potential signs of hypotension.
B. A client whose wound drainage at 0800 was sanguineous and now it is serosanguineous indicates normal progression of wound healing; thus, it is less critical.
C. A client who has a prescription for insulin and his premeal capillary blood glucose was 110 mg/dL and his post-meal capillary blood glucose is now 160 mg/dL needs blood glucose management, but this is less urgent than assessing for potential hypovolemia or shock.
D. A client whose blood pressure at 0800 was 138/86 mm Hg and at 1200 is 106/60 mm Hg is experiencing a significant drop in blood pressure, which could indicate hypovolemia or shock. This requires immediate assessment and intervention to prevent complications.
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Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Rationale:
A. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing Decision Tree provides guidance for decision-making but does not specifically address delegation.
B. The state Nurse Practice Act defines the scope of practice for RNs and LPNs and is essential for understanding what tasks can be delegated.
C. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 primarily pertains to nursing home regulations and does not directly address task delegation.
D. The National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Services focuses on LPN education and standards, but the state Nurse Practice Act is more directly relevant to delegation.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Requesting a referral is important but not immediately critical compared to other needs.
B. Asking about a PCA pump with morphine indicates a potential issue with pain management or medication delivery that needs immediate attention.
C. Assisting with a bath is important for comfort and hygiene but is less urgent compared to immediate pain management.
D. Questions about a new prescription should be addressed but are generally less urgent than issues related to pain management.