Question

A client arrives in the emergency department with an eye injury resulting from metal fragments that hit the eye while the client was drilling into metal. The nurse assesses the eye and notes small pieces of metal floating on the eyeball. Which action should the nurse take first?

Option 1: Instill eye drops to flush out the metal fragments
Option 2: Use a magnet to remove the metal fragments
Option 3: Cover the eye with a sterile dressing
Option 4: Rinse the eye with normal saline

Answer 1

The nurse should first rinse the eye with normal saline to flush out the metal fragments.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should first rinse the eye with normal saline to flush out the metal fragments. Option 4 is the correct action because it is important to remove the foreign objects from the eye to prevent further damage. Using eye drops or a magnet without first rinsing the eye may not effectively remove the metal fragments.