A small amount of mercury was spilled on the floor after an old sphygmomanometer was broken. What is the priority action of the nurse?

Choice A reason: This is a correct choice because providing personal hygiene before bedtime is an appropriate nursing intervention to promote adequate sleep for a patient who suffers from a sleep pattern disturbance. This intervention can help the patient to feel more comfortable, relaxed, and refreshed, and to reduce the risk of infection or skin breakdown.

Choice B reason: This is a correct choice because synchronizing the schedule for medications and vital signs is an appropriate nursing intervention to promote adequate sleep for a patient who suffers from a sleep pattern disturbance. This intervention can help the patient to have uninterrupted sleep cycles, and to avoid unnecessary disturbances or discomforts from frequent assessments or treatments.

Choice C reason: This is an incorrect choice because administering sleep aids every night at the same time is not an appropriate nursing intervention to promote adequate sleep for a patient who suffers from a sleep pattern disturbance. This intervention can cause dependence, tolerance, or adverse effects from the sleep aids, and may not address the underlying cause of the sleep problem. The nurse should use non-pharmacological methods to promote sleep, and administer sleep aids only as prescribed and indicated.

Choice D reason: This is a correct choice because assisting the patient to use the toilet before bed is an appropriate nursing intervention to promote adequate sleep for a patient who suffers from a sleep pattern disturbance. This intervention can help the patient to avoid nocturia, which is the need to urinate at night, and to prevent urinary tract infections or incontinence.

Choice E reason: This is a correct choice because straightening and changing any soiled bed linens is an appropriate nursing intervention to promote adequate sleep for a patient who suffers from a sleep pattern disturbance. This intervention can help the patient to maintain a clean, dry, and comfortable sleeping environment, and to prevent skin irritation or infection.

Choice A reason: This is an incorrect choice because health-seeking behaviors related to expressed desire for better sleep is not the highest priority nursing diagnosis for a patient who is starting CPAP therapy for sleep apnea. Health-seeking behaviors are actions that a person takes to improve their health and well-being. However, this is not the most urgent or life-threatening problem for the patient, as it does not pose an immediate risk of harm or injury.

Choice B reason: This is an incorrect choice because impaired bed mobility related to presence of CPAP mask on face is not the highest priority nursing diagnosis for a patient who is starting CPAP therapy for sleep apnea. Impaired bed mobility is the limitation of the patient's ability to move in bed. However, this is not the most urgent or life-threatening problem for the patient, as it does not cause an immediate risk of harm or injury.

Choice C reason: This is an incorrect choice because risk for impaired skin integrity related to tight-fitting mask on face is not the highest priority nursing diagnosis for a patient who is starting CPAP therapy for sleep apnea. Risk for impaired skin integrity is the potential for the patient's skin to be damaged or broken. However, this is not the most urgent or life-threatening problem for the patient, as it does not cause an immediate risk of harm or injury.

Choice D reason: This is the correct choice because risk for powerlessness related to inability to breathe regularly during sleep is the highest priority nursing diagnosis for a patient who is starting CPAP therapy for sleep apnea. Risk for powerlessness is the potential for the patient to feel a loss of control or self-efficacy. This is the most urgent and life-threatening problem for the patient, as it can result in psychological distress, anxiety, depression, or hopelessness.