Final answer:
The specific cathartic a nurse should use depends on the type of poison consumed; common cathartics include magnesium sulfate and sorbitol. Atropine is used for nerve agent poisoning, while chelating agents like DMSA or DMPS may be used for arsenic poisoning. For acidosis, an IV solution of bicarbonate may be administered.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a patient is brought to the emergency room following the consumption of poison, the healthcare provider might instruct the administration of cathartics to expedite the removal of the substance from the gastrointestinal tract. However, the choice of a specific cathartic would depend on the type of poison ingested and the patient's overall health status.
Examples of cathartics include magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) and sorbitol. For some poisonings, activated charcoal is used to absorb the poison in the stomach and intestines.
In cases of nerve agent poisoning, atropine is the standard anticholinergic drug used to manage symptoms, and oximes might be administered as an antidote. For other specific types of poisoning, such as arsenic, chelating agents like Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) or dimercaptopropane sulfonate (DMPS) are used. In other scenarios, such as acidosis arising from excessive consumption of lemon juice, an intravenous solution of bicarbonate might be administered.
It is crucial for the medical personnel to have a thorough knowledge of the toxicological emergency to choose the appropriate cathartic or antidote.