The nurse is continuing to care for the adolescent.

Admission Assessment

1400:

Adolescent brought to emergency department by parents following a fall while skateboarding. Adolescent reports pain in their right leg as 10 on a scale of 0 to 10 and is unable to bear weight.

Adolescent is awake, alert, and oriented x 3. Lungs clear, respirations even and regular. S1 and S2 with regular rate and rhythm. Abdomen soft and nontender with active bowel sounds in all four quadrants. Right lower extremity with open wound and displaced bone. Right lower extremity pulse +1, extremity cool to touch, edema present, capillary refill 4 seconds.

Which of the following prescriptions should the nurse anticipate from the provider?

A. Documenting the client's refusal in the medical record is an important action, but not the first one. The nurse should first try to understand the client's perspective and address any concerns or misconceptions they might have about the blood transfusion. This choice is incorrect.

B. Honoring the client's decision to refuse the blood transfusion is a respectful and ethical action, but not the first one. The nurse should first attempt to educate and persuade the client about the benefits and risks of the treatment, and respect their autonomy only after ensuring that they have made an informed decision. This choice is incorrect.

C. Exploring the client's reasons for refusing the treatment is the first action that the nurse should take. The nurse should use effective communication skills to elicit the client's beliefs, values, fears, and preferences regarding the blood transfusion, and provide factual and evidence-based information to address any knowledge gaps or misconceptions. The nurse should also assess the client's decision-making capacity and determine if they are competent to refuse the treatment. This choice is correct.

D. Discussing the client's refusal with the provider is an appropriate action, but not the first one. The nurse should first try to resolve the issue with the client directly, and involve the provider only if they are unable to do so or if there are legal or ethical implications that require further consultation. This choice is incorrect.

A. Instructing a staff member to maintain a log of emergency care provided is not the first action that the nurse should take. This is an important task, but it can be done later, after ensuring the safety of the staff and children and providing immediate care to those who need it.

B. Applying cervical spine collars to children who have suspected neck trauma is not the first action that the nurse should take. This is a priority intervention, but it can only be done after surveying the scene for potential hazards and making sure that it is safe to approach and touch the children.

C. Notifying guardians of the emergency and injuries to their children is not the first action that the nurse should take. This is a necessary step, but it can be delegated to another staff member or done after providing initial care to the children.

D. Surveying the scene for potential hazards to staff and children is the correct answer. This is the first action that the nurse should take, according to the principles of emergency care. The nurse needs to assess the situation and ensure that there are no dangers such as fire, electricity, gas, or falling debris that could harm anyone at the scene. The nurse also needs to determine how many children are injured, how severe their injuries are, and what resources are available to help them.