Final answer:
The priority nursing action for a client with DIC is to avoid giving IM injections due to the high risk of bleeding complications. Alternative methods of medication administration are recommended to minimize trauma and subsequent bleeding.
Step-by-step explanation:
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) is a complex condition characterized by both excessive clotting and bleeding. In managing DIC, the priority nursing action is to treat underlying causes and manage bleeding and thrombosis simultaneously. Therefore, the correct answer is b. Avoid giving IM injections.
Giving intramuscular (IM) injections can lead to bleeding complications in DIC due to the dysfunction in clotting. Instead, alternative routes of medication administration should be considered to minimize trauma and bleeding risks. Nurses should also closely monitor the patient for signs of bleeding, provide supportive care, and prepare for interventions as prescribed.
Other actions including monitoring for Homans sign, taking temperature rectally, and applying sequential compression stockings can be a part of patient care but are not the highest priority when managing someone with DIC, where the focus is primarily on preventing and managing bleeding complications.