You enter the room of your known diabetic patient and find them unresponsive. After ensuring they are breathing and have a patent airway, you check a blood glucose and find it to be 30 mg/dL. Which of the following medications should be the priority to administer?

15-30g oral carbohydrates.

10% dextrose continuous IV infusion

Glucagon PO,

50% dextrose in water (050W) IV push

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A. 15-30g oral carbohydrates:
Oral carbohydrates are a first-line treatment for hypoglycemia in a conscious, alert patient who can safely swallow. However, since the patient is unresponsive, administering oral carbohydrates is not an appropriate option. The patient’s inability to swallow safely increases the risk of aspiration, making IV treatment the priority in this case.

B. 10% dextrose continuous IV infusion:
A 10% dextrose IV infusion can be used in the management of hypoglycemia, but in an acute, emergency setting where the patient is unresponsive and their blood glucose is critically low (30 mg/dL), a rapid-acting intervention is needed. A bolus dose of a concentrated solution, such as 50% dextrose, is more appropriate for quickly raising the blood glucose level in this situation, rather than a continuous infusion, which takes longer to achieve an effective increase in glucose.

C. Glucagon PO:
Glucagon is typically used for hypoglycemia in patients who are unconscious or unable to take oral glucose. However, glucagon is typically administered intramuscularly (IM) or subcutaneously (SQ), not orally (PO). Administering glucagon orally is ineffective, as it would not be absorbed by the body in the necessary manner to correct hypoglycemia. Therefore, this option is inappropriate.

D. 50% dextrose in water (50% DW) IV push:
When a patient is unresponsive and their blood glucose level is critically low (30 mg/dL), the priority treatment is an immediate, concentrated source of glucose. Administering 50% dextrose IV push is the most appropriate intervention in this scenario. It provides a rapid and effective increase in blood glucose levels, which is critical for reversing hypoglycemia in an emergency situation. This is the fastest and most direct approach to treating severe hypoglycemia in an unresponsive patient.

Nursing Test Bank

Test Bank #1: RN Pharmacology Exams Test Bank #2: RN Medical-Surgical Exams Test Bank #3: RN Fundamentals Exams Test Bank #4: RN Maternal-Newborn Exams Test Bank #5: RN Anatomy and Physiology Exams Test Bank #6: RN Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Test Bank #7: RN Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Test Bank #9: RN Adult Health Test Bank #10: RN Dosage Calculation Test Bank #11: RN Community Health Exams Test Bank #12: RN Psychology Exams Test Bank #13: RN Nursing Care Of Children Test Bank #14: RN Foundations of Nursing Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Exam #1: RN Comprehensive predictor 2023 proctored exam Exam #2: Ati rn vati comprehensive predictor proctored exam Exam #3: Ati Rn Comprehensive Predictor Proctored Exam 2023 Exam #4: Rn Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Proctored Exam - St. Joseph Exam #5: RN Comprehensive Predictor Proctored Exam (National U CA San Diego) Exam #6: Ati rn comprehensive predictor 2023 retake proctored exam Exam #7: RN Hesi Exit Proctored Exam Exam #8: Hesi RN Exit proctored exam Exam #9: Hesi rn exit proctored exam Exam #10: Hesi Rn compass exit B proctored exam

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A) "Administer IV hydralazine and monitor blood pressure":
. The patient's elevated blood pressure (172/92 mmHg), along with headaches and blurred vision, could indicate a hypertensive emergency, a serious condition where extremely high blood pressure can cause acute organ damage. Hydralazine is a common intravenous antihypertensive medication used to lower blood pressure quickly in these situations. The nurse should administer hydralazine as prescribed and closely monitor the blood pressure to prevent complications like stroke, heart failure, or kidney damage. Blood pressure management is the priority, as the patient's symptoms are likely related to the elevated BP.

B) "Administer oxygen at 10 liters/minute by non-rebreather mask":
. While oxygen therapy may be appropriate for patients with respiratory distress or hypoxia, the patient's SpO2 is 97% on room air, indicating that there is no immediate oxygenation issue. Administering oxygen unnecessarily could lead to oxygen toxicity, and it is not the priority in this case. The patient's main concern is their elevated blood pressure, which requires urgent management.

C) "Administer acetaminophen 650 mg PO re-check temperature":
. While headaches are one of the patient's complaints, there is no indication of fever (the temperature is 98.6°F). Administering acetaminophen would be appropriate for pain relief, but it is not the priority in this case. The elevated blood pressure and potential hypertensive emergency are the primary issues that need to be addressed first.

D) "Infuse 0.9% sodium chloride at 120 mL/hour":
. Normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride) is typically used for hydration, but there is no indication that the patient is dehydrated or that intravenous fluids are the priority. In cases of hypertensive emergency, the goal is to lower blood pressure using antihypertensive medications, not to infuse fluids. Fluid administration could potentially worsen the situation if the elevated blood pressure is not addressed first.

A. Antiretrovirals (such as Zidovudine, Entacavir) B. Stool softeners and laxatives (such as Docusate, Senna) C. Corticosteroids or immunosuppressants (such as Prednisone, Sulfasalazine) D. Sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim (SMX-TMP. Bactrim)

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, both of which involve chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. During an exacerbation, treatment focuses on reducing inflammation and controlling symptoms.

Corticosteroids (e.g., Prednisone): Used for short-term inflammation control during flare-ups.
Immunosuppressants (e.g., Sulfasalazine, Azathioprine, Methotrexate): Help maintain remission and reduce immune system overactivity.
Biologic agents (e.g., Infliximab, Adalimumab): Used for severe cases or when other treatments fail.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

You enter the room of your known diabetic patient and find them unresponsive. After ensuring they are breathing and have a patent airway, you check a blood glucose and find it to be 30 mg/dL. Which of the following medications should be the priority to administer?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The nurse is caring for a client with an exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease. Which of the following orders would be anticipated for this patient?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The nurse is caring for a patient who was admitted for seizures. All of the following precautions should be taken to promote a safe environment except which?

A nurse is providing teaching to a patient with chronic venous insufficiency. Which of the following should be included in the teaching plan? (Select all that apply.)

The nurse is assigned to care for a client in traction. The nurse creates a plan of a care for the client and would include which action in the pian?

A nurse is preparing to administer purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test to another healthcare worker. Which of the following statements about the test is incorrect?

A nurse is caring for a client who had IV fluids initiated at 0330. The IV fluids are infusing at 120 mL/hr. The nurse should record how many mL of IV fluids on the intake record at 0600?

The nurse is caring for a client who was admitted for an acute exacerbation of Crohn's Disease with severe diarrhea for the last two days. The nurse knows that which of the following is the priority risk for this client?

The nurse cares for a client who is a pale and reports frequent fatigue, weakness and dizziness. Which serum laboratory test result is the nurse’s priority for planning care?

The nurse is planning care for a client with type 1 diabetes mellitus. When planning administration for rapid-acting insulin Lispro, the nurse knows to administer it during which timeframe based on the onset of action?