A client is found to be comatose and hypoglycemic with a blood sugar of 50 mg/dL. Which of the following would the nurse do first?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The priority action in a client who is comatose and hypoglycemic is to administer glucose to rapidly restore blood sugar levels. Administering 50% glucose intravenously provides the fastest route for absorption and is the appropriate immediate action. Infusing 1000 mL of D W over a 12-hour period would be too slow, checking for the presence of sugar and acetone in the urine does not address the immediate need to raise blood sugar levels, and encouraging the client to drink orange juice with added sugar may be too slow and not effective if the client is comatose.

A Client Is Found to Be Comatose and Hypoglycemic with a Blood