An occupational health nurse at a group of health care clinics is planning activities to prevent and control the spread of communicable disease. The nurse should identify that which of the following activities is a secondary level of prevention?

A. Inserting an indwelling catheter is within the LPN’s scope of practice. However, this task should only be delegated if the nurse has verified the need and obtained a provider’s order. Delegation of this task depends on the facility’s policies and the LPN’s competencies.

B. Obtaining abdominal girth is a routine measurement that can be delegated to an AP. This task does not require clinical judgment, making it unnecessary to assign it to the LPN.

C. Assessing and documenting the level of consciousness requires critical thinking and nursing judgment, which are responsibilities of the registered nurse (RN). This task should not be delegated to the LPN or AP.

D. Measuring the amount of gastric drainage every 2 hours is within the scope of practice for the LPN. This task involves observation and documentation but does not require complex clinical judgment, making it an appropriate delegation for the LPN.

A. Hypotension occurs because hypermagnesemia causes vasodilation, which lowers blood pressure. Magnesium acts as a smooth muscle relaxant, decreasing vascular resistance and contributing to hypotension. This is a common clinical finding when magnesium levels exceed the normal range.

B. Tachycardia is not expected with hypermagnesemia. Elevated magnesium levels depress the heart's electrical activity, leading to bradycardia (slow heart rate) instead of tachycardia.

C. Muscle cramps are typically associated with hypomagnesemia, which increases neuromuscular excitability. In hypermagnesemia, neuromuscular function is suppressed, leading to muscle weakness rather than cramps.

D. Hyperreflexia is a symptom of hypomagnesemia, not hypermagnesemia. In hypermagnesemia, neuromuscular activity is depressed, resulting in diminished or absent deep tendon reflexes