While assessing a client who takes acetaminophen for chronic pain, the nurse observes that the client's skin looks yellow in color. Which action should the nurse take in response to this finding?
Use a pulse oximeter to assess oxygen saturation.
Advise the client to reduce the medication dose.
Report the finding to the healthcare provider.
Check the client's capillary glucose level.
The Correct Answer is C
Rationale:
A. Jaundice is not related to oxygen saturation, so using a pulse oximeter is not appropriate in this situation.
B. Reducing the dose of acetaminophen may be necessary, but this decision should be made after evaluating liver function.
C. Jaundice, characterized by yellowing of the skin, can indicate liver dysfunction, possibly due to acetaminophen overuse or toxicity. The nurse should report this finding to the healthcare provider immediately for further evaluation and management.
D. Checking capillary glucose levels is not relevant to the assessment of jaundice.
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Withdrawing and reinserting the NGT should only be done if the tube is misplaced or dislodged.
B. Sending the fluid to the lab is unnecessary unless there is a specific concern, such as infection.
C. Connecting the NGT to wall suction should only be done after confirming proper placement.
D. Determining the pH value of the aspirated fluid helps verify that the NGT is correctly positioned in the stomach. Gastric fluid typically has a pH of 1 to 5, confirming proper placement.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Rationale:
A. A white blood cell count of 8,000/mm³ is within the normal range and does not indicate a need for dosage adjustment.
B. Inelastic skin turgor may indicate dehydration or aging but does not directly affect drug dosage.
C. Elevated serum creatinine levels indicate impaired renal function, which necessitates a reduced dosage of medications excreted through the kidneys, such as ticarcillin disodium.
D. Thin, fragile veins are a concern for intravenous access but do not affect the medication dosage.