A nurse is admitting a client who has Guillain-Barre syndrome. The client complains of an inability to move both legs and reports a tingling sensation above the waistline. Which is the most important piece of equipment for the nurse to keep at this client's bedside?

A. Tachycardia (rapid heart rate) can occur in response to hypoxia (low oxygen levels), stress, or as a side effect of medications like albuterol. While tachycardia is a concerning sign in the context of an asthma exacerbation, it alone does not directly indicate the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation. It is often managed by addressing the underlying respiratory distress and improving oxygenation.
B. Anxiety is common in patients struggling to breathe, as they may feel frightened or panicked due to their difficulty breathing. However, anxiety itself is not an indicator for intubation and mechanical ventilation. It is a symptom of respiratory distress but does not directly assess the severity of the physiological need for mechanical support.
C. Hypotension (low blood pressure) in the context of an asthma exacerbation can be a sign of severe illness, possibly indicating shock or severe respiratory distress leading to reduced cardiac output. While hypotension is a serious concern, it is less directly related to the immediate need for intubation and mechanical ventilation compared to other indicators of respiratory failure.
D. Loud expiratory wheezing indicates significant airway obstruction but does not necessarily reflect the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation. Wheezing can be a sign of severe asthma but may not be sufficient on its own to necessitate intubation if the patient can still maintain adequate oxygenation and ventilation.

A. Atrial fibrillation is characterized by irregularly irregular rhythms with no distinct P-waves. Instead, it has a chaotic baseline with fibrillatory waves. The ventricular response can be irregular and variable. The description provided (regular P-waves in a sawtooth formation) does not match the typical appearance of atrial fibrillation, which lacks regular P-waves and has an irregular rhythm.
B. Atrial flutter is characterized by regular, sawtooth-shaped P-waves known as "F-waves" or "flutter waves." The classic pattern is referred to as "F-waves" with a "sawtooth" appearance, often seen in the inferior leads (II, III, aVF). The atrial rate is typically between 240 to 340 beats per minute, which fits the rate of 260 beats per minute in the description. The ventricular rate can be regular or irregular, depending on the degree of AV node conduction. A

C. Unstable angina is a clinical diagnosis of chest pain due to myocardial ischemia. It is not associated with specific ECG findings related to the P-wave morphology or rate. The ECG findings described do not correspond to unstable angina, which would typically present with ST-segment changes or other signs of myocardial ischemia rather than a specific P-wave pattern.
D. Premature atrial contractions (PACs) are early beats originating from the atria that interrupt the normal rhythm. They usually present as a single early beat with a different morphology of the P-wave compared to the sinus P-waves, but do not result in a regular sawtooth pattern or a sustained rhythm at high rates like the one described.