Level: Clinical
Difficulty: Medium
Subtopic: Hematologic disorders
NCLEX: A 45-year-old client in the emergency department is being evaluated for pancytopenia after chemotherapy. Assessme…
Adult health / medical-surgical nursing Physiological Adaptation
Case Study
A 45-year-old client in the emergency department is being evaluated for pancytopenia after chemotherapy. Assessment data include temperature 102.2°F (39°C), heart rate 126/min, blood pressure 86/50 mm Hg, and confusion. Which nursing action is the priority to keep the client safe?
Question
A. Leave the client alone to promote independence while finishing charting.
B. Stay with the client, remove immediate hazards, reassess, and escalate per facility safety protocol.
C. Apply the first intervention in the policy manual without a current assessment.
D. Delegate the initial assessment and clinical judgment to unlicensed assistive personnel.
B. Stay with the client, remove immediate hazards, reassess, and escalate per facility safety protocol.
C. Apply the first intervention in the policy manual without a current assessment.
D. Delegate the initial assessment and clinical judgment to unlicensed assistive personnel.
Rationale
Correct answer: B. Stay with the client, remove immediate hazards, reassess, and escalate per facility safety protocol.
Rationale: Client safety requires direct assessment, hazard reduction, and timely escalation rather than assumptions, abandonment, or policy-only actions.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.
Rationale: Client safety requires direct assessment, hazard reduction, and timely escalation rather than assumptions, abandonment, or policy-only actions.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.