Author Question: A male in his 30s has been brought to the emergency department by emergency medical services with an ... (Read 109 times)

jace · **on:** Jul 19, 2018

A male in his 30s has been brought to the emergency department by emergency medical services with an apparent heroin overdose. In the immediate care of this client, what assessments should the nurse prioritize?

A) Monitoring of fluid and electrolyte levels
B) Psychosocial assessment and identification of support systems
C) Musculoskeletal and integumentary assessments
D) Neurological and respiratory assessments

Question 2

Which of the following clients is exhibiting the effects of an alcohol use disorder?

A) A 66-year-old man who has been admitted to the emergency department with apparent delirium tremens
B) A 22-year-old male student who now drinks nine or ten drinks in order to get the same effect that he used to get from drinking a six pack
C) A 59-year-old woman whose recent CT scan reveals the presence of Wernicke's encephalopathy
D) A 28-year-old woman who is experiencing the signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal

emilymalinowski12 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 19, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Ans: D
Opioids are powerless CNS depressants. As such, depression of the respiratory center takes place and can be fatal. The vigilant assessment of the client's neurological and respiratory status supersedes the importance of psychosocial, musculoskeletal, or integumentary assessments. Fluid and electrolytes would be monitored closely, but these are secondary to respiratory and neurological assessments.

Answer to Question 2

Ans: B
Tolerance is a symptom of alcohol dependence, which is an alcohol use disorder. Alcohol withdrawal and organic brain damage are problems that result directly from the effects of alcohol on the CNS and are considered alcohol-induced disorders.