An older patient has an increase in pitting edema of both ankles and is experiencing breathlessness. The patient is not experiencing any pain. What action should the nurse take to help the patient at this time?

Question

1. Allow the patient to rest.
2. Measure intake and output.
3. Measure the patient's weight.
4. Contact the physician for further evaluation and treatment.

Answer 1

4. Contact the physician for further evaluation and treatment.

Explanation: 1. Although allowing the patient to rest may reduce the breathlessness, this alone does not provide the appropriate intervention to address the patient's underlying problem.
2. Measuring intake and output is helpful assessment data but will not help the patient's current symptoms.
3. Measuring the patient's weight is helpful assessment data but will not help the patient's current symptoms.
4. The absence of chest pain in the older person does not indicate an absence of ischemic heart disease. Older adults can present with fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and gastrointestinal complaints. The nurse needs to contact the physician for further evaluation and treatment.