Author Question: A pediatric oncology nurse floats to an orthopedic trauma unit. What actions should the nurse ... (Read 43 times)

ss2343 · **on:** Jul 22, 2018

A pediatric oncology nurse floats to an orthopedic trauma unit. What actions should the nurse manager of the orthopedic unit take to enable safe care to be given by this nurse?

a. Provide a complete orientation to the functioning of the entire unit.
b. Determine patient acuity and care the nurse can safely provide.
c. Allow the nurse to choose which meal time she would like.
d. Assign nursing assistive personnel to assist her with care.

Question 2

A patient presents to the emergency department with the complaint of vomiting and diarrhea for the past 48 hours. The nurse anticipates which fluid therapy initially?

a. 0.9 sodium chloride
b. Dextrose 10 in water
c. Dextrose 5 in water
d. 0.45 sodium chloride

tdewitt · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

B
Nurses who float need to inform the supervisor of any lack of experience in caring for the type of patients on the nursing unit. They also need to request and receive an orientation to the unit. Supervisors are liable if they give a staff nurse an assignment that he or she cannot safely handle. Before accepting employment, learn the policies of the institution regarding floating, and have an understanding as to what is expected. A basic orientation is needed, whereas a complete orientation of the functioning of the entire unit would take a period of time that would exceed what the nurse has to spend on orientation. Allowing the nurse to choose which meal time she would like is a nice gesture of thanks for the nurse, but it does not enable safe care.
Having nursing assistive personnel may help the nurse complete basic tasks such as hygiene and turning, but it does not enable safe nursing care that she is ultimately responsible for.

Answer to Question 2

A
Patients with prolonged vomiting and diarrhea become hypovolemic. The best solution to replace extracellular volume is 0.9 sodium chloride, which is an isotonic solution. Dextrose 10 in water, dextrose 5 in water, and 0.45 sodium chloride act as hypotonic solutions in the body. The first consideration is replacing extracellular volume to oxygenate tissues.