A dietitian with a prescription for no not resuscitate (DNR) begins to manifest signs of impending death. After notifying the family of the patient's status, what priority action should the nurse implement?
The patient's need for pain medication should be determined.
The nurse manager should be updated on the patient's status.
The patient's status should be conveyed to the chaplain.
The impending signs of death should be documented.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A is correct because the nurse's priority is to provide comfort and dignity to the dying patient. Pain management is an essential aspect of end-of-life care.
Choice B is incorrect because updating the nurse manager is not a priority action. The nurse manager can be informed later, after the patient's needs are met.
Choice C is incorrect because conveying the patient's status to the chaplain is not a priority action. The chaplain can be contacted later, after the patient's needs are met. The chaplain may also need the consent of the patient or the family before providing spiritual support.
Choice D is incorrect because documenting the impending signs of death is not a priority action. Documentation can be done later, after the patient's needs are met. Documentation is important, but not as important as providing comfort and dignity to the dying patient.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","D","E"]
Explanation
Choice A: Obtaining postoperative vital signs for a client one day following unilateral knee arthroplasty is a nursing action that the nurse can assign to the PN, as this is a basic skill that does not require complex judgment or intervention by the registered nurse. Therefore, this is a correct choice.
Choice B: Starting the second blood transfusion for a client twelve hours following a below knee amputation is not a nursing action that the nurse should assign to the PN, as this is an advanced skill that requires close monitoring and evaluation by the registered nurse. This is an incorrect choice.
Choice C: Initiating patient controlled analgesia (PCA. pumps for two clients immediately postoperatively is not a nursing action that the nurse should assign to the PN, as this involves administering controlled substances and assessing pain levels, which are beyond the scope of practice of the PN. This is another incorrect choice.
Choice D: Performing daily surgical dressing change for a client who had an abdominal hysterectomy is a nursing action that the nurse can assign to the PN, as this is a routine task that can be done under the supervision and direction of the registered nurse. Therefore, this is another correct choice.
Choice E: Administering a dose of insulin per sliding scale for a client with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a nursing action that the nurse can assign to the PN, as this is an established protocol that can be followed by the PN with appropriate documentation and reporting. Therefore, this is another correct choice.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A: Yellow-tinged sputum is not a critical finding for the nurse to report, as this is a common sign of pneumonia and does not indicate an adverse reaction to meropenem. This is a distractor choice.
Choice B: Nausea and headache are not urgent findings for the nurse to report, as these are mild side effects of meropenem and can be managed with supportive measures. This is another distractor choice.
Choice C: Watery diarrhea is an important finding for the nurse to report, as this can indicate a serious complication of meropenem, such as Clostridioides difficile infection, which can cause severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and sepsis. Therefore, this is the correct choice.
Choice D: Increased fatigue is not a significant finding for the nurse to report, as this can be related to the client's underlying condition and does not suggest a problem with meropenem. This is another distractor choice.
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