A 33-year-old man has been a chronic abuser of alcohol for several years and has been admitted to the emergency department many times because of the consequences of his alcohol use.
Most recently, he has been brought in by emergency medical services after being found unconscious outside a local mall. The nurse who is admitting the patient should prioritize what assessments?
A) Assessing the patient's patterns of dependence and coping strategies
B) Assessing neurological status and assessing for electrolyte imbalances
C) Assessing for impaired nutrition
D) Assessing for possible interactions between alcohol and other drugs
Question 2
A postsurgical patient is awake and extremely anxious while in the postanesthesia recovery unit. She states that my arms and legs feel like tree trunks and they are hard to move.
She also states that my head feels fuzzy and the right words will not come out. Which of the following is the most appropriate nursing action for this patient?
A) Provide analgesia medication for the discomfort
B) Stay with the patient as much as possible and provide reassurance
C) Provide fluids to increase her wakefulness
D) Encourage the patient to turn from side to side periodically