A client is admitted for Bronchitis and Pneumonia and has a temperature of 100.1 F with a purulent cough and is complaining of chest pain with inspiration rated 4 out of a 10-point pain scale.  Which medication should the nurse administer first?

The nurse received a postoperative client complaining of pain with Vital Signs:  Blood pressure: 90/60 mmHg, Respiratory rate: 22 breaths/min, Heart rate 115 beats/min.  Before administering Morphine, what should the nurse do first?

A client had a thoracentesis for drainage of a pleural effusion.  The nurse assesses a large quantity of yellow, thick purulent drainage in the specimen container sent to lab. Which condition does the nurse suspect with the pleural effusion characteristics? 

The nurse is caring for a client with 2 chest tubes.  One chest tube for a hemothorax and one for a pneumothorax. When monitoring the client with a chest tube, what should the nurse be most concerned about and report to the health care provider?

A client with a tracheostomy tube coughs violently during suctioning and dislodges the tracheostomy tube onto their chest.  Which intervention should the nurse implement first?

The client is admitted with a potassium level of 6.5 mEq/L. The client complains of chest palpitations. What does the nurse expect to administer?

A client postoperative Day 2, in the last 24 hours, had a urinary output of 900 ml.  The client weighs 65 kg. What is the next best action of the nurse? (Hint: 0.5 ml/kg/hr). 

On admission to the post anesthesia care unit (PACU), the client’s blood pressure was 128/75 mmHg, Heart Rate 80 beats per minute, alert and oriented.  Thirty minutes later, the blood pressure decreases to 82/55 mmHg with a pulse of 125 beats per minute.  The nurse assesses the client drowsy, confused, restless, clammy and diaphoretic skin.  Which intervention should the nurse implement first?

A client’s family history reveals they may be at risk for malignant hyperthermia (MH) during anesthesia. The student nurse asks the nurse if the client’s family history will affect their surgery.  What is the best response from the nurse?

The nurse is assessing the potassium level with a client.  The nurse recognizes a critical complication in both hyperkalemia and hypokalemia is: