A nurse is reviewing the medical records of four clients.

The nurse should identify that which of the following client findings requires follow-up care.

The findings that require immediate follow-up are:.

• • Adult child accompanying parent reports decline in client, expressing concern over memory and thought process, appetite, and self-care. Adult child states. “My sibling and I hired help at home for my parent. We thought that would help but it has not. I found the title to the car today, signed over to me.”.
  • Client makes poor eye contact, speaks in a monotone voice, and has a lack of facial expression. Client reports not wanting to eat anymore. Client’s child reports their parent has lost about 8 lb in the past month.
  • Client says. "Why don’t you just leave me? I am of no use.”.

These findings suggest that the client may have cognitive impairment, depression, and/or malnutrition, which can affect their health and quality of life. The nurse should perform a comprehensive assessment of the client’s cognitive, behavioral, and functional status, review their medications and possible side effects, provide education and support for healthy aging, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and community resources. The nurse should also evaluate the client’s home environment and lifestyle, and consider nonpharmacological approaches to manage behavioral problems. The nurse should also monitor the client’s vital signs and weight regularly.

This client should be assessed first because they are at risk of hypoglycemia, which is a medical emergency that can cause seizures, coma, or death if not treated promptly.
The nurse should check the client’s blood glucose level again and provide additional carbohydrates or glucose if needed.
Choice A is wrong because a client who is scheduled for a procedure in 1 hr is not in immediate danger and can be assessed later.
The nurse should verify the client’s consent, allergies, and vital signs before the procedure, but this is not a priority over a client with low blood glucose.
Choice B is wrong because a client who received pain medication 30 min ago for postoperative pain is likely to have improved pain relief and does not need immediate assessment.
The nurse should monitor the client’s pain level, vital signs, and respiratory status periodically, but this is not a priority over a client with low blood glucose.
Choice D is wrong because a client who has 100 mL of fluid remaining in his IV bag is not in immediate danger and can be assessed later.
The nurse should change the IV bag when it is empty or nearly empty, but this is not a priority over a client with low blood glucose.
Normal blood glucose levels are between 70 to 100 mg/dL (3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L) when fasting, and less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) two hours after eating. A blood glucose level below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) is considered hypoglycemia and requires immediate treatment. Orange juice is a source of simple carbohydrates that can raise blood glucose quickly, but it may not be enough to prevent hypoglycemia in some cases.