A nurse is monitoring a client who just received a blood transfusion. The client suddenly develops dyspnea, tachycardia, and chest pain. What is the nurse's priority action?
Elevate the head of the bed to promote lung expansion.
Administer diuretics to manage fluid overload.
Stop the transfusion immediately and notify the healthcare provider.
Document the client's symptoms and continue the transfusion at a slower rate.
The Correct Answer is C
A) Incorrect: Elevating the head of the bed may help promote lung expansion, but it is not the nurse's priority action when the client is experiencing severe symptoms like dyspnea, tachycardia, and chest pain during a transfusion.
B) Incorrect: Administering diuretics is not the appropriate action for the client's symptoms, which suggest a possible transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) or acute hemolytic transfusion reaction. Diuretics will not address the underlying cause.
C) Correct: The client's symptoms of dyspnea, tachycardia, and chest pain indicate a potential severe transfusion reaction. The nurse's priority action is to stop the transfusion immediately and notify the healthcare provider for further evaluation and intervention.
D) Incorrect: Continuing the transfusion at a slower rate is not appropriate when the client is experiencing severe symptoms. The nurse should first stop the transfusion and then notify the healthcare provider.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A) Incorrect: Administering antipyretics to reduce fever is not the appropriate intervention for an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction. This type of reaction involves the destruction of red blood cells, not an elevation in body temperature.
B) Incorrect: Preparing to administer a diuretic is not the appropriate intervention for an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction. Fluid overload is not a typical feature of this type of reaction.
C) Correct: Monitoring the client's vital signs frequently is a crucial intervention for an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction. This type of reaction can cause rapid onset of severe symptoms, including fever, chills, hypotension, tachycardia, and potential shock.
D) Incorrect: Administering epinephrine is not the appropriate intervention for an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction. Epinephrine is used to treat anaphylactic reactions, not hemolytic reactions.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A) Raising the head of the client's bed and administering oxygen is the immediate action to improve oxygenation and relieve respiratory distress in a client experiencing potential pulmonary edema, as evidenced by the pink, frothy sputum.
B) Obtaining a sputum sample for culture and sensitivity testing may be important to assess for infection, but it is not the nurse's immediate action in response to a severe transfusion reaction.
C) Administering a diuretic may help with pulmonary congestion, but it is not the nurse's immediate action in response to a severe transfusion reaction. The priority is to improve oxygenation.
D) Discontinuing the blood transfusion and removing the IV catheter is important, but the immediate action to address the client's respiratory distress is to raise the head of the bed and administer oxygen. Stopping the transfusion can follow after the client's respiratory status stabilizes.
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