Question

A patient comes into the emergency department with clinical manifestations of retinal detachment.

What action by the nurse is the priority to minimize this patient's eye movements?

A. Provide a sedative
B. Loosely cover both eyes
C. Elevate the head of the bed 45 degrees
D. Apply an eye patch over the affected eye

Answer 1

The priority action for minimizing eye movements in a patient with retinal detachment is applying an eye patch over the affected eye.

Step-by-step explanation:

The action of the nurse that is the priority to minimize eye movements in a patient with clinical manifestations of retinal detachment is to apply an eye patch over the affected eye. An eye patch helps to restrict the movement of the affected eye, which is important in preventing further damage to the detached retina. Other actions, such as providing a sedative or elevating the head of the bed 45 degrees, may be helpful in managing pain and promoting comfort, but they are not the priority when it comes to minimizing eye movements.