An older adult client arrives to the emergency department after experiencing two days of fever, nausea, and vomiting. The client gives the nurse a bag of home medications and reports a history of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus with an onset of blurred vision. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?

Establish mental status baseline.

Insert an indwelling urinary catheter.

Check the accuracy of medication list.

Obtain a capillary blood glucose level.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A.   While establishing a mental status baseline is important for assessing the client's overall neurological condition and any potential changes in consciousness or cognition, it is not the immediate priority in this case.
B.   Inserting a urinary catheter might be necessary for monitoring urine output, especially if there are concerns about fluid balance or kidney function. However, it is not the immediate priority in this scenario unless there are signs of urinary retention or output issues.
C.   Checking the accuracy of the medication list is important for understanding the client's current treatment regimen and any possible drug interactions or errors. However, this action does not directly address the urgent symptoms of fever, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision, which could be indicative of a more immediate medical issue.
D.   Given the client’s history of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and the presenting symptoms, obtaining a capillary blood glucose level is the most critical and immediate intervention. The symptoms of fever, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision can be associated with hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) or hypoglycemia (low blood glucose).

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. The Z-track technique helps to prevent medication from leaking into the subcutaneous tissue and minimizes irritation by sealing the medication in the muscle. This is especially important for medications that are known to cause irritation or staining, such as iron supplements or some antipsychotics
B. The length of the needle is not directly related to the use of the Z-track technique. The Z-track method is used to minimize irritation and ensure that the medication is deposited in the muscle rather than leaking into the subcutaneous tissue.
C. The reason for using the Z-track technique is related to preventing irritation and ensuring proper medication delivery, rather than simply following a prescription.
D. The volume of medication is not the primary reason for using the Z-track technique. While the Z-track method can be used for administering larger volumes of medication, the technique's primary purpose is to prevent leakage and reduce tissue irritation.

A. Notify the charge nurse of the problem. B. Notify the healthcare provider of the situation. C. Discard the urine and start another 24-hour period. D. Add another hour to the urine collection period.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. While it’s important to inform the charge nurse of any issues with the collection process, this action alone does not address the core problem of the collection being compromised. The charge nurse may offer guidance or assist in deciding the next steps, but the primary focus should be on correcting the collection process to ensure accurate results.
B. Notifying the healthcare provider can be important, especially if the results of the 24-hour urine collection are critical to the client’s diagnosis or treatment plan. However, it is usually more efficient to first address the issue of the collection itself and then inform the healthcare provider about the results of these corrective actions.
C. This is the most appropriate action when a mistake occurs in the collection process, such as flushing a voided sample. The integrity of the collection is compromised, and starting a new 24-hour collection period ensures that all samples are accounted for and that the results will be accurate.
D. Adding extra time to the urine collection period does not compensate for the missed sample. The accuracy of the collection depends on having all urine samples from the full 24-hour period.

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is teaching another nurse about the administration of medication using the Z track technique. Which is the primary reason for using a Z track technique to administer a medication?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A client started a 24-hour urine collection several hours ago. The client tells the nurse that the last voiding was accidentally flushed instead of saved in the container. Which intervention should the nurse initiate?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

An older client with colorectal carcinoma receives a colostomy following a bowel resection and the nurse is reviewing written instructions about colostomy care that the client will take home after discharge. Which action should the nurse include when reviewing the instructions with the client?

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