An elderly male patient, who has been experiencing abdominal pain, is admitted to the hospital from a long-term care facility.

He hasn’t had a bowel movement in 7 days, his abdomen is distended, and he recently vomited 150 mL of dark brown emesis.

In what order should the nurse perform the following interventions? Arrange from highest to lowest priority.

Choice A rationale
While any positive response on the CAGE questionnaire could be a cause for concern and warrant further investigation, one positive response does not definitively indicate that the patient should seek help with alcohol addiction. The CAGE questionnaire is a screening tool used to identify potential problems with alcohol, but it is not diagnostic. A healthcare provider would need to conduct a more thorough assessment to diagnose alcohol addiction.
Choice B rationale
It is not necessary for all responses to the CAGE questionnaire to be positive in order to suggest alcohol dependence. The CAGE questionnaire is a screening tool, and while a greater number of positive responses increases the likelihood of alcohol dependence, it is not a requirement for all responses to be positive. A score of two or more is considered clinically significant.

Choice C rationale
The CAGE questionnaire is indeed a tool used to identify potential problems with alcohol, but it is not used to identify general substance abuse. The CAGE questionnaire specifically asks about feelings related to alcohol use. There are other screening tools available that are designed to identify issues with other substances.
Choice D rationale
This is the correct answer. The CAGE questionnaire is a validated screening tool that is widely used in clinical settings to detect alcoholism. It is considered positive, and suggestive of alcohol dependence, if two or more questions are answered affirmatively.

Choice A rationale
Determining the presence of ST-elevations or non-ST-elevations on the electrocardiogram is an important step in diagnosing a myocardial infarction. However, this is typically performed by a healthcare provider or a trained technician, not a nurse.
Choice B rationale
While creating a calm and quiet environment can be beneficial for a client experiencing chest pain, it is not the immediate intervention that should be performed. The client’s symptoms suggest a possible cardiac event, which requires immediate medical intervention.
Choice C rationale
Verifying that troponin level assessments are scheduled every 3-6 hours for a series of three is important for diagnosing myocardial infarction. However, this is not the immediate intervention that should be performed. The client’s symptoms suggest a possible cardiac event, which requires immediate medical intervention.
Choice D rationale
Applying oxygen via nasal cannula and titrating to keep oxygen saturation above 93% is the correct intervention. This action helps to increase the oxygen supply to the myocardium, potentially decreasing the extent of myocardial damage and relieving chest pain.