Question

A client scheduled for a colonoscopy has received nothing by mouth since midnight. The procedure is scheduled for 8 a.m. At 6:30 a.m. the nurse collects a fingerstick glucose sample that registers 40 mg/dl on the glucose monitor. The client is alert, has clear speech, and states, "I don't feel like my sugar is too low." Initially, the nurse should:

1) document the finding and withhold the client's morning insulin.
2) give the client an oral simple sugar.
3) notify the registered nurse immediately so she can administer 50 g of dextrose I.V.
4) repeat the fingerstick glucose test.

Answer 1

A nurse should initially repeat the fingerstick glucose test to confirm a reading of 40 mg/dl in an alert patient scheduled for a colonoscopy. If hypoglycemia is verified, appropriate treatment should follow based on hospital protocols and the patient's condition.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question involves a patient scheduled for a colonoscopy who has a fingerstick glucose reading of 40 mg/dl, while being alert and denying symptoms of low blood sugar. This reading is considered a hypoglycemic value and requires immediate attention to prevent potential complications. For a health professional, the initial step should be to verify the accuracy of the glucose measurement, especially in the absence of hypoglycemic symptoms, hence the nurse should repeat the fingerstick glucose test. If the second reading confirms hypoglycemia, the nurse should then follow protocol to treat it, which might involve giving an oral glucose source or intravenous dextrose, depending on the patient's ability to safely ingest oral carbohydrates and the urgency of the situation.