Question

A nurse on a medical surgical unit is assessing a client who has sustained injuries 12 hours ago following the motorcycle vehicle crash. The client admission blood alcohol level was 325 mg. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the client is experiencing alcohol withdrawal

a.A 17-year-old client who lives with friendsIndividuals younger than 18 years of age can only provide informed consent if they are married, pregnant, parents, or emancipated.
b.A 50-year-old client who has a blood alcohol level of 80 mg/dLA client who is intoxicated cannot legally give informed consent.
c.A 35-year-old client who has major depressive disorderMY ANSWERA client who has major depressive disorder is capable of making health care decisions unless the client is determined to be legally incompetent.
d.A 65-year-old client who just received a dose of morphineA client who has just received morphine, an opioid analgesic, is functionally incompetent due to the medication's effect on the CNS.

Answer 1

The client with a previous blood alcohol level of 325 mg may show signs of alcohol withdrawal, which can include tremors, agitation, and nausea. Monitoring and medical supervision are crucial during withdrawal to ensure patient safety. Alcohol metabolism is constant, and only time can prevent toxicity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client who sustained injuries from a motorcycle vehicle crash and had a blood alcohol level of 325 mg 12 hours ago may exhibit signs of alcohol withdrawal. Symptoms of withdrawal can be quite severe and may include tremors, agitation, nausea, sweating, and in more severe cases, seizures and hallucinations. It's critical to monitor the client for these signs, as withdrawal can be life-threatening and requires medical supervision. The metabolism of alcohol in the body happens at a consistent rate, approximately 15 mg/dL per hour, and factors such as weight, gender, and individual metabolism can affect this rate. However, the only effective way to avoid alcohol toxicity is to allow the liver time to fully metabolize the ingested alcohol. It's also important to note that pregnant women should avoid alcohol consumption to prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) or fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in their infants.