The nurse is performing post-mortem care on a client who has just died. What nursing care should be given priority?

A. Assessing family members for potential poor bereavement outcomes, such as complicated grief or unresolved issues, allows the nurse to provide appropriate support and interventions. This may involve identifying risk factors, offering counseling or referrals to support services, and providing emotional support to family members as needed.

C. Assessing the understanding of the dying process among family members helps the nurse identify their informational needs, address misconceptions, and provide education and support accordingly. Clear communication and open dialogue can help alleviate anxiety and uncertainty and empower family members to participate actively in the care of their loved one.

E. Respecting and supporting the client's religious and cultural beliefs and practices is essential in providing culturally competent care. This may involve collaborating with spiritual or religious leaders, facilitating rituals or ceremonies, providing appropriate accommodations, and honoring the client's preferences regarding end-of-life care and decision-making.

B. Encouraging frequent meals may not be appropriate during the dying process, as the client's appetite and ability to eat may be significantly diminished. Instead, the focus should be on providing comfort measures, maintaining oral hygiene, and offering small, manageable amounts of food or fluids based on the client's preferences and comfort level.

D. Urging the family to limit their time with the client is contrary to supporting them during the dying process. Family presence and involvement are essential for providing emotional support, companionship, and comfort to the client. Encouraging meaningful interactions and opportunities for sharing memories and expressions of love can promote a sense of connection and closure for both the client and their family.

B. When a client experiences symptoms of extravasation, such as pain, burning, and swelling, especially with a vesicant medication, the priority is to stop the infusion and remove the catheter immediately to prevent further tissue damage. Removing the catheter promptly helps minimize the amount of medication that may have leaked into the surrounding tissues.
A. Elevating the extremity on a pillow may help reduce swelling and discomfort in some cases, but it is not the first action the nurse should take when a vesicant medication has caused pain, burning, and swelling at the IV site.
C. Keeping the catheter in place is not advisable when extravasation has occurred, especially with a vesicant medication. Continuing the infusion could lead to further tissue damage and exacerbate the client's symptoms. Removing the catheter is necessary to prevent additional medication from entering the surrounding tissues.
D. While applying a cool compress may provide temporary relief from discomfort, it is not the first action the nurse should take when managing extravasation caused by a vesicant medication. The priority is to stop the infusion, remove the catheter, and assess the extent of tissue damage. Cool compresses may be used after the catheter removal to help reduce swelling and discomfort.