A nurse is performing a tonometry test on a client with a suspected diagnosis of glaucoma. The nurse looks at the documented test results and notes an intraocular pressure (IOP) value of 23 mm Hg. What should the nurse's initial action be?
Note the time of day the test was done.
Apply normal saline drops.
Instruct the client to sleep with the head of the bed flat.
Contact the primary health care provider.
The Correct Answer is D
A. While noting the time of day is important for documentation, it does not address the immediate concern of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP).
B. Applying normal saline drops is not indicated in the immediate management of elevated IOP in glaucoma; it does not directly affect IOP levels.
C. Instructing the client to sleep with the head of the bed flat is not advisable, as elevated head positions may help decrease IOP.
D. An IOP of 23 mm Hg is above the normal range (10-21 mm Hg) and indicates potential glaucoma. Therefore, contacting the primary health care provider for further evaluation and treatment is the most appropriate initial action.
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