During change-of-shift report, a nurse discovers they overlooked a prescription for a type and cross-match of a client who is to have surgery the next day. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Inform the provider of the delay in obtaining the type and cross-match.
Document the incident in the client’s medical record.
Prepare an incident report for risk management.
Obtain the client’s type and cross-match.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A Reason:
Informing the provider of the delay in obtaining the type and cross-match is important for keeping the healthcare team informed. However, this action should follow the immediate step of obtaining the type and cross-match to ensure the client has compatible blood available for surgery. Communication with the provider is crucial but secondary to addressing the immediate need.
Choice B Reason:
Documenting the incident in the client’s medical record is necessary for maintaining accurate records and ensuring continuity of care. However, this action should be performed after the immediate need for obtaining the type and cross-match is addressed. Accurate documentation is essential but not the first priority in this situation.
Choice C Reason:
Preparing an incident report for risk management is important for identifying and addressing potential system issues that led to the oversight. However, this action is not the immediate priority. The primary focus should be on obtaining the type and cross-match to ensure the client’s safety during surgery. Incident reporting can be done after the immediate needs are met.
Choice D Reason:
Obtaining the client’s type and cross-match is the first action the nurse should take because it ensures that the client will have compatible blood available for transfusion if needed during surgery. This step directly addresses the immediate clinical need and prioritizes the client’s safety and readiness for surgery.
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Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Airborne precautions are necessary for clients with tuberculosis (TB) because TB is an airborne disease. It is transmitted through tiny droplets released into the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These precautions include placing the client in a negative pressure room, using N95 respirators for healthcare workers, and ensuring the client wears a surgical mask when outside their room. These measures help prevent the spread of TB to others.
Choice B Reason:
Protective precautions, also known as reverse isolation, are used to protect immunocompromised patients from infections. These precautions are not appropriate for a client with TB, as the primary concern is preventing the spread of TB from the infected client to others, not protecting the client from external infections.
Choice C Reason:
Contact precautions are used for infections that are spread by direct or indirect contact with the patient or their environment, such as MRSA or C. difficile. TB is not spread through contact but through airborne particles, so contact precautions are not sufficient for preventing the transmission of TB.
Choice D Reason:
Droplet precautions are used for diseases that are spread through large respiratory droplets, such as influenza or pertussis. While TB is a respiratory disease, it is spread through much smaller airborne particles that can remain suspended in the air for longer periods, making airborne precautions necessary instead of droplet precautions.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason:
A client who has new onset of dyspnea 24 hours after a total hip arthroplasty should be seen first. Dyspnea, or difficulty breathing, can be a sign of a serious complication such as a pulmonary embolism, which is a medical emergency. Pulmonary embolism is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in the lungs, usually caused by blood clots that travel to the lungs from the legs or other parts of the body. This condition requires immediate assessment and intervention to prevent life-threatening consequences.
Choice B reason:
A client who has a urinary tract infection and low-grade fever is a concern, but it is not as urgent as the client with new onset dyspnea. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common and can be managed with antibiotics and supportive care. While a low-grade fever indicates an infection, it does not pose an immediate threat to the client’s life. The nurse should still address this client’s needs, but it can be done after attending to the more urgent case.
Choice C reason:
A client who has acute abdominal pain of 4 on a scale from 0 to 10 should be assessed, but it is not as critical as the client with new onset dyspnea. Acute abdominal pain can have various causes, some of which may require urgent attention, but a pain level of 4 indicates moderate pain. The nurse should evaluate this client to determine the cause of the pain and provide appropriate interventions, but it can be done after addressing the more urgent case.
Choice D reason:
A client who has pneumonia and an oxygen saturation of 96% is stable at the moment. Oxygen saturation levels above 95% are generally considered acceptable in pneumonia patients. While pneumonia requires monitoring and treatment, the client’s current oxygen saturation level indicates that they are not in immediate respiratory distress. The nurse should continue to monitor this client and provide necessary care, but it can be done after attending to the more urgent case.
