The nurse, caring for a client in the emergency room with a severe nosebleed, becomes concerned when the client asks for a bedpan. The nurse documents the stool as loose, tarry, and black looking. The nurse suspects the client may have thrombocytopenia. What should be the nurse's priority action?
A) Stop the nosebleed
B) Put in an IV line
C) Ask someone to clean the bedpan
D) Notify the physician

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse's priority action should be to notify the physician of the client's stool assessment indicating possible gastrointestinal bleeding. This may be a possible complication of thrombocytopenia, but the physician needs to be notified and orders obtained to confirm and treat the potential bleeding. Stopping the nosebleed and putting in an IV line may be important interventions, but they are not the priority in this situation. Cleaning the bedpan can wait until after the medical assessment has been completed.

The Nurse, Caring for a Client in the Emergency Room