The client is admitted complaining of nausea and vomiting for the past three days. The doctor has ordered D51/2 NS with potassium added. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate? A. Obtain an IV controller B. Check the client's vital signs hourly C. Check the sodium level D. Obtain an 18-gauge cathlon to begin the infusion

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: C. Check the sodium level.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the given information

The client is experiencing nausea and vomiting for the past three days. The doctor ordered D51/2 NS (5% Dextrose in 0.45% Normal Saline) with added potassium. The nurse must choose the most appropriate action from the given options.
02

Analyze option A: Obtain an IV controller

An IV controller helps regulate the rate of the IV infusion. While this can be important for administering the D51/2 NS solution, there might be other more urgent actions needed to attend to the client's condition.
03

Analyze option B: Check the client's vital signs hourly

Monitoring the client's vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature) can inform the nurse of the client’s overall well-being and response to the treatment. This can be an important action to take, but let's analyze the other options first.
04

Analyze option C: Check the sodium level

The client's sodium level could be affected by the ongoing nausea and vomiting, as well as by the D51/2 NS infusion since it contains a certain concentration of sodium. Monitoring the client's sodium level can help prevent potential complications like hyponatremia or hypernatremia. This is an important action to consider.
05

Analyze option D: Obtain an 18-gauge cathlon to begin the infusion

An 18-gauge cathlon is a relatively large IV catheter, mostly used for rapid fluid administration. In this case, the client may not necessarily require rapid infusion of the fluid and a smaller catheter could be more suitable.
06

Choose the most appropriate action

Given the importance of monitoring the client's condition in response to the doctor's order and considering the potential impact of the infusion on the client's sodium levels, the most appropriate action for the nurse to take is: C. Check the sodium level.

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