Question

A client arrives in the emergency department following an eye injury from a chemical solution. Which of the following is the initial nursing action?

A. Instill anesthetic eye drops.
B. Flush the eye with copious amounts of water.
C. Administer oral pain medication.
D. Apply a sterile dressing to the eye.

Answer 1

The initial nursing action would be to flush the eye with copious amounts of water.

Step-by-step explanation:

The initial nursing action for a client who arrives in the emergency department with an eye injury from a chemical solution would be to flush the eye with copious amounts of water (Option B). This is done to remove the chemical or irritant from the eye and prevent further damage. Instilling anesthetic eye drops may provide temporary relief, but it is not the initial priority. Administering oral pain medication and applying a sterile dressing to the eye should only be done after the eye has been flushed and the chemical has been removed.