Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 63%
Practice
Your patient with peritonitis is NPO and complaining of thirst. What is your priority?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
In the context of a patient with peritonitis who is NPO and complaining of thirst, the priority action is to provide frequent mouth care, as indicated by the correct answer C.
Providing frequent mouth care helps to maintain oral hygiene, reduce dryness, and alleviate the sensation of thirst without compromising the patient's NPO status. It also promotes comfort and prevents complications such as oral mucosal breakdown and infection. Addressing the patient's thirst through mouth care is a non-invasive and safe approach that aligns with the patient's dietary restrictions.
The other options are not the priority in this situation:
- Option A (Increase the I.V. infusion rate) may not be necessary solely for thirst relief and could potentially lead to fluid overload or other complications.
- Option B (Use diversion activities) is not the most appropriate intervention when the patient's primary concern is thirst related to NPO status and peritonitis.
- Option D (Give ice chips every 15 minutes) is contraindicated for a patient who is NPO due to the risk of aspiration and potential worsening of the underlying condition.
Understanding the rationale behind prioritizing mouth care in this scenario reinforces the importance of individualized patient care, critical thinking, and evidence-based practice in the field of medical-surgical nursing.
Providing frequent mouth care helps to maintain oral hygiene, reduce dryness, and alleviate the sensation of thirst without compromising the patient's NPO status. It also promotes comfort and prevents complications such as oral mucosal breakdown and infection. Addressing the patient's thirst through mouth care is a non-invasive and safe approach that aligns with the patient's dietary restrictions.
The other options are not the priority in this situation:
- Option A (Increase the I.V. infusion rate) may not be necessary solely for thirst relief and could potentially lead to fluid overload or other complications.
- Option B (Use diversion activities) is not the most appropriate intervention when the patient's primary concern is thirst related to NPO status and peritonitis.
- Option D (Give ice chips every 15 minutes) is contraindicated for a patient who is NPO due to the risk of aspiration and potential worsening of the underlying condition.
Understanding the rationale behind prioritizing mouth care in this scenario reinforces the importance of individualized patient care, critical thinking, and evidence-based practice in the field of medical-surgical nursing.