A nurse in an emergency department is caring for a client who has a closed head injury. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

The correct answer is choice A, administer a fluid bolus.

Choice A rationale:

Administering a fluid bolus is appropriate when a client’s urine output is low, which in this case is less than the minimum expected output of 30 mL/hr. The dark yellow color of the urine also suggests dehydration or concentrated urine, which can be addressed with increased fluid intake.

Choice B rationale:

Initiating continuous bladder irrigation is typically done to clear the urinary tract of blood clots or debris following urologic surgery, not for low urine output or dark urine. Therefore, this intervention is not indicated based on the given scenario.

Choice C rationale:

Obtaining a urine specimen for culture and sensitivity is an action taken when there is a suspicion of a urinary tract infection. The scenario does not provide evidence of infection, such as fever or cloudy urine with a strong odor, so this would not be the first intervention to anticipate.

Choice D rationale:

Clamping the catheter tubing is done in preparation for catheter removal or to assess if the client can void without the catheter. It is not an appropriate intervention for low urine output or dark urine and could potentially cause bladder distention or discomfort.

The correct answer is B.

Previous violent behavior. According to the web search results, this is the best predictor of future violence among the given risk factors.

Other risk factors include past history of aggression, poor impulse control, and violence. Comorbidity that leads to acts of violence (psychotic delusions, command hallucinations, violent angry reactions with cognitive disorders).

Choice A is wrong because a history of being in prison is not a direct cause of violence, but rather a possible consequence of it.

Choice C is wrong because male gender is not a sufficient factor to predict violence, as there are many other variables involved. Choice D is wrong because experiencing delusions is not necessarily associated with violence, unless they are of a paranoid or persecutory nature.

Normal ranges for violence risk assessment are not standardized, but some tools that can be used include the Historical Clinical Risk Management-20 (HCR-20), the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG), and the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). These tools use different scales and criteria to evaluate the likelihood of violent behavior in individuals.