A client is in isolation after receiving an internal radioactive implant to treat cancer. Two hours later, the nurse discovers the implant in the bed linens. What should the nurse do first?
A. Stay in the room and call for help.
B. Pick up the implant with long-handled forceps and place it in a lead-lined container.
C. Leave the room and notify the radiation therapy deparment immediately.
D. Put the implant back in place, using forceps and a shield for self-protection and call for help.
Saunders has a very SIMILAR question, not the same though
The client is hospitalized for insertion of an internal cervical radiation implant. While giving care, the nurse finds the radiation implant in the bed. The initial nursing action is to:
1. Call the physician
2. Reinsert the implant into the lady parts immediately
3. Pick up the implant with gloved hands and flush it down the toilet
4. Pick up the implant with long-handled forceps and place it in a lead container
but the answer from Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Med-Surg Nursing is letter C. my answer was letter B and i was wrong. I read that from Saunders too and the answer is letter B. that's why i'm confused. here's the rationale of Brunner: If a radioactive becomes dislodged, the nurse should immediately leave the room and notify the radiation therapy department. The nurse shouldn't attempt to handle the implant or remain in the room with the implant.
I was taught in both my LPN and RN programs that if a patient has radiation implants, long-handled forceps and a lead-lined container should always be in the room in the event the radioactive implant becomes dislodged. It can then be easily picked up and placed in the container to limit further exposure to both the patient and caretakers.
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Turd Ferguson
455 Posts
Saunders has a very SIMILAR question, not the same though
The client is hospitalized for insertion of an internal cervical radiation implant. While giving care, the nurse finds the radiation implant in the bed. The initial nursing action is to:
1. Call the physician
2. Reinsert the implant into the lady parts immediately
3. Pick up the implant with gloved hands and flush it down the toilet
4. Pick up the implant with long-handled forceps and place it in a lead container