A patient admitted to the hospital after an automobile accident has a blood alcohol concentration ( BAC ) of 220 mg/dl ( 0.22 mg% ). The patient is alert and does not appear highly intoxicated. An appropriate nursing action is to

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The patient's assessment data indicate physiologic dependence on alcohol, and the patient is likely to develop acute withdrawal such as anxiety, hyperreflexia, and sweating, which could be life-threatening. Acetaminophen is not recommended because it is metabolized by the liver. IV thiamine and IV glucose solutions usually are given to intoxicated patients to prevent Wernicke's encephalopathy, and there is no indication that the patient should be NPO.

A Patient Admitted to the Hospital After an Automobile Accident