The nurse is caring for a client who arrives to the emergency department with reports of experiencing dizziness and difficulty walking to the bathroom.The nurse observes right-sided weakness and sluggish enunciation of speech. The nurse should immediately take which action?
Explanation & Rationale
Choice A reason: Keeping the bed in the lowest position and initiating seizure and fall precautions is not an immediate action for the nurse to take. Seizure and fall precautions are measures that prevent injury or harm to the client in case of a seizure or a fall. Seizure and fall precautions include lowering the bed, padding the side rails, removing any objects that may cause injury, and having suction and oxygen equipment ready. However, these precautions are not specific to the client's condition and do not address the underlying cause.Choice B reason: Placing an indwelling urinary catheter and measuring strict intake and output is not an urgent action for the nurse to take. An indwelling urinary catheter is a tube that drains urine from the bladder into a collection bag. Measuring intake and output is a way of monitoring fluid balance and kidney function. However, these interventions are not essential for the client's condition and may increase the risk of infection or trauma.Choice C reason: Maintaining elevated positioning of the dependent joints on affected side is not a relevant action for the nurse to take. Dependent joints are joints that are below the level of the heart, such as the ankles or wrists. Elevating dependent joints can help reduce swelling or pain by improving blood flow and drainage. However, this intervention is not related to the client's condition and does not improve neurological function.