Question

A nurse is caring for a client who has a blood glucose level of 52 mg/dL. The client is lethargic but arousable. Which of the following actions should the nurse perform first?

1) Recheck blood glucose in 15 min.
2) Provide a carbohydrate and protein food.
3) Provide 4 oz grape juice.
4) Report findings to the provider.

Answer 1

The nurse should provide 4 oz of grape juice to the client first to raise their blood glucose level. Rechecking the blood glucose level and reporting findings to the provider are secondary actions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should provide 4 oz of grape juice to the client first. A blood glucose level of 52 mg/dL indicates hypoglycemia, which can cause lethargy. Providing grape juice, which contains sugar, will help raise the client's blood glucose level and improve their symptoms quickly.

Rechecking the blood glucose level in 15 minutes may be necessary after providing the grape juice, but it should not be the nurse's first action. Reporting the findings to the provider is important, but it is not the priority in this situation. Providing a carbohydrate and protein food is also important, but it should be done after addressing the immediate need for raising the blood glucose level.