A nurse is caring for four children in an emergency department. Which of the following clients should the nurse assess first?

A. Provide the client with a low-protein diet: Clients with severe preeclampsia may require dietary modifications, but a low-protein diet is not typically indicated. Instead, they may need a balanced diet with adequate protein intake to support maternal and fetal health.
B. Ambulate the client every 4 hr: Ambulation may not be suitable for a client with severe preeclampsia due to the risk of seizures and other complications associated with the condition. Bed rest or limited activity is often recommended to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes.
C. Ensure that the side rails are up on the client's bed: This action is crucial for the safety of the client with severe preeclampsia, as they are at risk of seizures, which can lead to injury from falls. Keeping the side rails up helps prevent falls and ensures the client's safety during periods of altered consciousness.
D. Check the fetal heart rate twice daily: Monitoring the fetal heart rate is essential in managing severe preeclampsia to assess fetal well-being and detect signs of fetal distress. However, the frequency of monitoring may vary depending on the severity of the condition and the healthcare provider's orders. More frequent monitoring may be necessary in some cases.

Correct Answer: B. Position the sterile drape leaving the perineum exposed.

Rationales

A. Lubricate the catheter with water-soluble gel.
Lubrication is important to reduce urethral trauma, but this is not the first step once the sterile field is prepared. It comes after draping and cleansing, just before catheter insertion.

B. Position the sterile drape leaving the perineum exposed.
This is the first action after donning sterile gloves and preparing the field. Draping maintains a sterile environment and provides access to the insertion site. Ensuring sterility from the beginning is critical for preventing catheter-associated infections.

C. Cleanse the client’s meatus with antiseptic solution.
Cleansing the meatus is done after draping to reduce the risk of introducing microorganisms during catheter insertion. Although essential, it is not the very first step once the sterile procedure begins.

D. Attach a prefilled syringe to the catheter inflation hub.
The balloon should not be prepared or inflated until after the catheter has been inserted and urine return is observed. Attaching the syringe too early may risk accidental inflation outside the bladder.