A nurse is admitting a client who is at risk for falls to a medical-surgical unit. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Elevate full-length side rails on both sides of the client's bed.
Place the bedside table 0.9 m (3 feet) away from the bed.
Keep the client's room temperature at 18° C (64.4" F).
Provide the client with a night light.
The Correct Answer is D
A. Elevate full-length side rails on both sides of the client's bed:
While side rails are used to prevent falls, full-length side rails can pose a risk to the client. They may give a false sense of security, and there's a risk of entrapment or injury if the client tries to climb over them. The use of side rails requires careful assessment and consideration of the individual client's needs.
B. Place the bedside table 0.9 m (3 feet) away from the bed:
Placing the bedside table 0.9 m (3 feet) away from the bed may not directly address the risk of falls. The focus should be on making essential items easily accessible to the client to minimize the need for them to get out of bed, especially during the night. Placing items within the client's reach is a more practical approach.
C. Keep the client's room temperature at 18°C (64.4°F):
While maintaining a comfortable room temperature is important for the client's overall well-being, it is not a direct preventive measure for falls. Falls are more likely to be prevented by addressing environmental factors, ensuring clear pathways, and providing adequate lighting.
D. Provide the client with a night light:
This is the appropriate action. A night light helps improve visibility during nighttime, reducing the risk of falls. It allows the client to see their surroundings better and navigate the room safely if they need to get out of bed.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Administer an antiemetic:
Administering an antiemetic might be necessary to relieve nausea and vomiting, but it is not the first action. Before administering medications, it is essential to assess the client's condition and gather information about the underlying cause of the symptoms.
B. Offer pain medication:
Offering pain medication is not the first action. The nurse needs to assess the client's condition, determine the cause of the pain, and gather more information before administering pain relief. Administering pain medication before a thorough assessment can mask important clinical signs and symptoms.
C. Palpate the abdomen:
Palpating the abdomen is an important step in the assessment, but it should follow auscultation of bowel sounds. Palpation can be deferred if there is concern about possible inflammation (as in suspected appendicitis) to avoid causing further irritation.
D. Auscultate bowel sounds:
This is the correct action. Auscultating bowel sounds is the first step in assessing the gastrointestinal (GI) function. The reported symptoms of right lower quadrant pain, nausea, and vomiting could be indicative of various GI issues, such as appendicitis. Assessing bowel sounds helps the nurse gather information about the status of peristalsis and potential obstructions.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. The client is consuming 25% of their meals.
Poor nutritional intake can lead to complications over time, but it is not the most immediate concern compared to other options. This finding is important but not the highest priority.
B. The client coughs frequently while eating.
Frequent coughing while eating can indicate dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), which increases the risk of aspiration. Aspiration can lead to serious complications like aspiration pneumonia, which is life-threatening. This is the nurse’s priority finding because it poses an immediate risk to the client’s airway and respiratory status.
C. The client's blood pressure is 142/94 mm Hg.
The blood pressure is elevated, which is concerning, especially in a post-stroke client. However, it is not critically high and does not present an immediate threat compared to the risk of aspiration.
D. The client leans to the left side while sitting.
Leaning to the left side while sitting could indicate poor balance or proprioception, which increases the risk of falls. While important to address, it is not as immediately critical as the risk of aspiration.
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