Question

A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is informed that a mass casualty event occurred in the community and that it is necessary to d/c stable clients to make beds available for injury victims. Which of the following clients should the nurse recommend for d/c?

1) A client who is dehydrated and receiving IV fluid and electrolytes
2) A client who has a nasogastric tube to treat a small bowel obstruction
3) A client who is scheduled for elective surgery
4) A client who has chronic HTN and BP 135/85 mmHg
5) A client who has acute appendicitis and is scheduled for an appendectomy.

Answer 1

The nurse should recommend discharging the client who is scheduled for elective surgery.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should recommend discharging the client who is scheduled for elective surgery. During a mass casualty event, it is necessary to make beds available for injury victims, and the client who is scheduled for elective surgery is not in need of immediate medical intervention or hospitalization.

In contrast, the client who is dehydrated and receiving IV fluid and electrolytes, the client who has a nasogastric tube to treat a small bowel obstruction, the client who has chronic HTN, and the client who has acute appendicitis and is scheduled for an appendectomy all require ongoing medical care and should not be discharged.

Therefore, the client who is scheduled for elective surgery is the most appropriate choice for discharge.