A young-adult patient is brought to the hospital by police after crashing the car in a high-speed chase when trying to avoid arrest for spousal abuse. Which action should the nurse take?
a. Question the patient about drug use.
b. Offer the patient a cup of coffee to calm nerves.
c. Discretely assess the patient for sexually transmitted infections.
d. Deal with the issue at hand, not asking about previous illnesses.
ANS: A
Reports of arrests because of driving while intoxicated, wife or child abuse, or disorderly conduct are reasons for the nurse to investigate the possibility of drug abuse more carefully. Caffeine is a naturally occurring legal stimulant that stimulates the central nervous system and is not the choice for calming nerves. Although sexually transmitted infections occur in the young adult, this is not an action a nurse should take in this situation. The nurse may obtain important information by making specific inquiries about past medical problems, changes in food intake or sleep patterns, and problems of emotional lability.
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