Which assessment on an older client with some degree of dehydration will the nurse perform to determine whether the client is safe for independent ambulation?

Choice A reason: Octreotide reduces portal hypertension and bleeding in esophageal varices by constricting splanchnic blood flow. This aligns with acute variceal bleed management, making it the correct medication the nurse would expect to be administered to the actively bleeding client.

Choice B reason: Propranolol prevents variceal bleeding long-term but is not used for active bleeding. Octreotide is acute treatment, making this incorrect, as it’s inappropriate for the nurse’s expectation in managing the client’s immediate esophageal variceal hemorrhage.

Choice C reason: Lactulose treats hepatic encephalopathy, not active variceal bleeding. Octreotide controls acute hemorrhage, making this incorrect, as it’s unrelated to the nurse’s priority of administering a medication to stop the client’s esophageal variceal bleeding in the emergency.

Choice D reason: Spironolactone manages ascites in liver disease, not acute variceal bleeding. Octreotide is the treatment for active bleeding, making this incorrect, as it’s irrelevant to the nurse’s expectation for a medication to control the client’s esophageal variceal hemorrhage.

Choice A reason: Tongue furrows indicate dehydration but don’t assess ambulation safety, which requires hemodynamic stability. Orthostatic blood pressure changes are key, making this incorrect, as it’s less relevant than the nurse’s priority to evaluate fall risk in a dehydrated client.

Choice B reason: Comparing blood pressure in lying, sitting, and standing positions detects orthostatic hypotension, a fall risk in dehydrated older clients. This aligns with mobility safety assessment, making it the correct action to determine if the client is safe for independent ambulation.

Choice C reason: Serum potassium above 3.5 mEq/L ensures cardiac stability but doesn’t directly assess ambulation safety. Orthostatic changes are more relevant, making this incorrect, as it’s not the nurse’s primary focus for evaluating mobility in a dehydrated client.

Choice D reason: Radial and apical pulse consistency checks pacemaker function, not ambulation safety in dehydration. Blood pressure changes are critical, making this incorrect, as it’s unrelated to the nurse’s assessment of safe independent ambulation in the dehydrated older client.