Final answer:
The most appropriate nursing intervention for a patient with a low sodium level of 117 mEq/L is to assess the patient's volume status and potentially administer intravenous sodium chloride solutions while carefully monitoring the sodium levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient has a sodium level of 117 mEq/L (normal 135-145 mEq/L), this indicates hyponatremia, which is a lower than normal sodium concentration in the blood. The most appropriate nursing intervention would begin with assessing the patient's volume status to determine whether they are hypovolemic, euvolemic, or hypervolemic hyponatremia. The intervention could involve administering sodium chloride solutions intravenously, particularly if the patient is symptomatic with signs of severe hyponatremia such as confusion.
In this scenario, considering the patient's low blood pressure and symptoms of confusion and thirst, it's critical to address the underlying cause of hyponatremia, which could be due to a variety of reasons, including dehydration. An isotonic NaCl solution may be given parenterally to repair the sodium and water deficits. It's also important to monitor the patient's sodium levels carefully to avoid rapid correction and potential complications like osmotic demyelination syndrome.