A client has been taking aspirin 325 mg six to eight times a day for the past two weeks to control pain from a knee injury.
Which symptom reported by the client should the nurse report to the health care provider (HCP) for priority follow-up?

A client who has been NPO for four days is most at risk to develop skin breakdown. This is because being NPO (nothing by mouth) can lead

to malnutrition and dehydration, which are both risk factors for bedsores. Malnutrition can impair the skin’s ability to heal and resist infection, while dehydration can make the skin dry and fragile.

Choice A is wrong because applying powder after drying the skin can help prevent moisture and friction, which are also risk factors for bedsores.

Choice C is wrong because bathing twice a week may not be frequent enough to keep the skin clean and free of irritants, which can also contribute to bedsores.

Choice D is wrong because hypertension (high blood pressure) does not directly cause bedsores, although it may be associated with other conditions that affect blood circulation and tissue oxygenation.

Notify the health care provider. The nurse should take this action first because the provider can prescribe appropriate interventions to prevent or minimize harm to the client.

The nurse should also inform the unit supervisor, document the error in the client’s medical record, and record the error on the appropriate quality improvement report, but these are not the priority actions.

Choice A is wrong because informing the unit supervisor is not the most urgent action. The supervisor can provide support and guidance to the nurse, but cannot prescribe interventions for the client.

Choice C is wrong because documenting the error in the client’s medical record is not the most urgent action.

The nurse should document the error after notifying the provider and assessing the client. Documentation should include the medication name, dose, route, time, client’s response, and actions taken.

Choice D is wrong because recording the error on the appropriate quality improvement report is not the most urgent action.

The nurse should record the error after notifying the provider and assessing the client. The report should include a factual description of what happened and what was done.