A patient who had a transverse colectomy for diverticulosis 18 hours ago has nasogastric suction and is complaining of anxiety and incisional pain
The patient's respiratory rate is 32 breaths/minute and the arterial blood gases (ABGs) indicate respiratory alkalosis. Which action should the nurse take first?
a. Discontinue the nasogastric suction.
b. Give the patient the PRN IV morphine sulfate 4 mg.
c. Notify the health care provider about the ABG results.
d. Teach the patient how to take slow, deep breaths when anxious.
ANS: B
The patient's respiratory alkalosis is caused by the increased respiratory rate associated with pain and anxiety. The nurse's first action should be to medicate the patient for pain. Although the nasogastric suction may contribute to the alkalosis, it is not appropriate to discontinue the tube when the patient needs gastric suction. The health care provider may be notified about the ABGs but is likely to instruct the nurse to medicate for pain. The patient will not be able to take slow, deep breaths when experiencing pain.
You might also like to view...
In what way could the researchers in the Willowbrook study have designed their research on the hepatitis virus so that it was ethically acceptable?
a. The researchers could have given each participant a chance to assent. b. The researchers could have performed their study on persons who were capable of full assent. c. The researchers could have made the study available at many institutions for the mentally retarded. d. The researchers could have performed descriptive research on persons already infected with hepatitis.
A client has just experienced a spontaneous abortion. The father of the baby asks the nurse why this has happened to them. Which of the following would the nurse tell the father is a risk factor for this to occur?
1. Maternal consumption of a medication that was a known teratogen 2. Maternal smoking 3. The mother having low levels of folic acid 4. Genetic history
An advantage of King's documentation system is that
A. The nurse knows if the patient achieved the goal or not. B. It includes the patient in the goal-setting process. C. It includes the doctor in the goal-setting process. D. It provides a path for recovery of health.
A patient is prescribed colesevalam (WelChol) 1875 mg twice a day. Available tablets are 625 mg each. How many tablets does the nurse administer to the patient?
a. 2 b. 3 c. 4 d. 5