Final answer:
The practical nurse should report the patient's increasing fatigue to the registered nurse or oncologist and monitor and document other vital signs and symptoms, as fatigue is a common side effect of external radiation therapy for breast cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
An adult client undergoing weekly external radiation treatments for breast cancer is reporting increasing fatigue to the practical nurse (PN). In this scenario, the PN should first acknowledge the client's symptoms and understand that fatigue is a common side effect of radiotherapy. The appropriate action would also be to report these findings to the registered nurse or oncologist overseeing the client's treatment for further assessment. This is because fatigue could indicate the body's normal response to radiation, the need for adjustment in the treatment protocol, or potentially other medical concerns that may require additional interventions.
Furthermore, depending on the protocols of the clinical setting, the PN might also be required to monitor and document other symptoms, vital signs, and any changes in the client's condition to help manage the side effects of radiation therapy effectively. This could include recommendations for rest, hydration, nutrition, and possibly, the management of anemia or other conditions contributing to the patient's fatigue.