A client comes to the emergency department and reports headache, nausea, and shortness of breath after being stranded at home without electricity due to severe winter weather. While collecting a history, which question is most important for the nurse to ask?

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11ecbb05_ca61_cbae_b433_012f44c13e89_MD0009_00 Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning fuel (eg, oil, kerosene, coal, wood) in a poorly ventilated setting. CO toxicity (poisoning) is most often associated with smoke inhalation from structure fires, but is also generated by furnaces/hot water heaters fueled by natural gas or oil, coal or wood stoves, fireplaces, and engine exhaust. Clients with CO toxicity often have nonspecific symptoms, and the diagnosis can be missed. It is important to assess for possible CO exposure to initiate appropriate emergency care and prevent hypoxic neurologic impairment. To help identify elevated CO levels in the home, the nurse can ask about the following: Similar symptoms in other family members, or an illness in an indoor pet that developed at the same time Fuel-burning heating/cooking appliances; risk of CO toxicity increases in the fall and winter due to increased used of heat sources in an enclosed space (Option C) (Options A, B, and D) It is important to reconcile the client's vaccinations, obtain a nutritional history, and explore the nature of the client's symptoms, but it is essential to rule out the possibility of CO toxicity given the circumstances of this client's illness. Educational objective: Carbon monoxide (CO) toxicity can occur when fuel-burning (eg, wood, coal) stoves or appliances are used in poorly ventilated settings. Clients with CO toxicity may have vague symptoms (eg, headache, dizziness, nausea), so it is important to assess for possible CO exposure to prevent delay of appropriate emergency care.

A Client Comes to the Emergency Department and Reports Headache