The nursing assistive personnel (NAP) reports that the patient is dizzy during a warm sitz bath. Which action should the nurse take before moving the patient?
a. Check the patient's pulse rate.
b. Dry off the patient completely.
c. Ask the patient if he or she is able to am-bulate.
d. State that dizziness is common.
A
The nurse should assess the patient's pulse rate to determine if the patient is stable enough to ei-ther continue the bath or ambulate back to bed with assistance. Unless a sphygmomanometer is readily available, taking the pulse is a good clinical indicator to evaluate hypotension indirectly because when the blood pressure falls, the heart rate increases to maintain the cardiac output. The patient should remain in place until the nurse assesses him unless he has a cardiovascular or chronic pulmonary condition and is shivering. If one of these conditions is present, the nurse and the NAP should dry off the patient, provide warm clothing, and return him to bed. Dizziness is a common response to a warm bath for patients who are older or who have cardiovascular, neuro-vascular, or chronic pulmonary conditions, but the nurse needs to assess the patient before de-ciding what is happening.
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