The nurse is caring for a client newly diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The client complains to the nurse of severe burning in the esophagus. The provider orders magnesium hydroxide. What outcome should the nurse expect if the medication achieves the desired therapeutic effect?

A. Magnesium hydroxide is an antacid medication that works by neutralizing gastric acid in the stomach. Therefore, if the medication achieves the desired therapeutic effect, the nurse should expect neutralization of gastric acid, which can alleviate the burning sensation in the esophagus associated with GERD.
B. Magnesium hydroxide does not directly affect stomach motility. Instead, its primary action is to neutralize gastric acid. Therefore, reducing stomach motility is not an expected outcome of magnesium hydroxide administration.
C. Magnesium hydroxide primarily acts within the stomach to neutralize gastric acid and does not significantly affect the pH of the duodenum. Therefore, reduced duodenal pH is not an expected outcome of magnesium hydroxide administration.
D. Pepsin is an enzyme involved in the digestion of proteins and can contribute to tissue damage if refluxed into the esophagus. Although reducing gastric acidity can indirectly decrease the activity of pepsin, magnesium hydroxide does not directly increase the barrier to pepsin.

B. Obtaining blood and urine specimens for culture and sensitivity is a critical first step. These specimens help identify the causative organism(s) and determine their susceptibility to antibiotics, guiding appropriate antibiotic therapy. Prompt initiation of targeted antibiotic treatment is essential in managing sepsis effectively.
A. This action is important for assessing the presence of any urinary tract stones or debris, which can be helpful in diagnosing the cause of the urinary tract infection. However, it is not the first action the nurse should take in managing a client admitted with sepsis secondary to a urinary tract infection.
C. Administering antibiotics before obtaining appropriate cultures may lead to empirical treatment without knowing the specific pathogen causing the infection. It is important to obtain cultures first to guide antibiotic selection and ensure optimal treatment.
D. Contact precautions may be necessary if the client is found to have a multidrug-resistant organism or if there are specific infection control concerns. However, placing the client on contact precautions is not the first action the nurse should take in managing sepsis secondary to a urinary tract infection.