A patient with diabetes is diaphoretic, has a heart rate of 112 beats per minute, and is feeling nervous and shaky. What action should the nurse take first?
1. Provide the patient with a snack of milk and crackers.
2. Administer insulin utilizing the prescribed sliding scale dosages.
3. Contact the laboratory and order a serum glucose level.
4. Obtain a capillary serum glucose level reading with a glucose meter.
Correct Answer: 4
The first action would be to verify the patient's blood glucose level. It would be more appropriate to use the nursing unit's glucometer than to wait for the laboratory to obtain a reading. In addition, there is no indication an order for laboratory values exists. While the patient is demonstrating manifestations consistent with hypoglycemia, obtaining the glucose levels first would be most beneficial. The patient is hypoglycemic, so insulin administration would be incorrect, as it would only add to the problem.
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