A nurse is assessing a client who is taking clozapine. For which of the following adverse effects should the nurse monitor and report to the provider?

Rationale for correct choices:

• Administer oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula: The client's oxygen saturation has dropped to 92% on room air, indicating mild hypoxia. Supplemental oxygen should be administered to improve myocardial oxygenation and reduce ischemia while further interventions are being prepared.
• Administer sublingual nitroglycerin: Nitroglycerin is a first-line medication for chest pain caused by suspected myocardial ischemia. It promotes vasodilation, reduces myocardial oxygen demand, and provides symptom relief. Administering it promptly can help prevent further cardiac damage.

Rationale for incorrect choices:

• Request a prescription for an increase in statin medication: Although the client has hyperlipidemia, increasing the statin dose is not an immediate priority during an acute chest pain episode. Lipid management is important long-term but does not address the acute ischemic event.
• Prepare the client for cardiac catheterization: Cardiac catheterization may eventually be necessary, but it is not the nurse’s first action. The priority is to stabilize the client’s symptoms (oxygenation and pain) before preparing for any invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedure.
• Check a STAT cardiac troponin: Troponin has already been obtained and is within normal limits at this point. While serial troponins may be needed later, immediate nursing priorities focus on symptom relief and oxygenation rather than repeating the test right away.
• Request a prescription for a beta-blocker: Beta-blockers may be used in the treatment of suspected myocardial infarction to reduce heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand. However, their initiation typically follows pain relief, oxygenation, and diagnostic confirmation, not as the first nursing action.

Rationale:

A. Limit visitors to 30 min per day: Time restrictions help minimize radiation exposure to visitors. Short visits reduce the cumulative dose received, which is especially important for non-staff individuals who are not regularly monitored for radiation exposure.

B. Instruct visitors who are pregnant to remain 3 feet from the client: Pregnant individuals should avoid close contact with radiation sources due to fetal sensitivity. Maintaining a 3-foot distance helps reduce exposure to scattered radiation from the sealed implant.

C. Wear a lead apron when providing care: A lead apron provides protection against scatter radiation, particularly during direct, prolonged care. Nurses should also stand as far away from the source as possible and work efficiently to limit time near the implant.

D. Place the client in a semi-private room: Clients with sealed radiation implants require a private room to protect others from radiation exposure. A semi-private room would place another patient at unnecessary risk and violates radiation safety protocols.

E. Close the door to the client's room: Keeping the door closed helps contain radiation within the room, thereby protecting other individuals in the surrounding area. It is a standard precaution for clients receiving internal radiation therapy.