LPN2RN2009

Thank you for your input. As a nursing student I always question myself!!!! Your information was VERY helpful. Good luck with school!!

I was wondering if someone can help me? We have been given this case study and there are some questions that I need help with. Here is the case study: A 64-year-old male patient is a direct admission to the nursing unit with the complaint of abdominal pain, nausea, an extreme weakness. The patient has a history of diabetes, chronic renal failure, and sleep apnea. Admission nursing assessment findings include temperature of 99.3 F, BP 174/110 mm Hg, pulse of 96 and irregular, PMI shifted to the left, JVD 4.5 cm above the angle of Louis, 3+ pitting edema in the lower extremities, and tenderness in the Right Upper Quadrant with abdominal palpation. The question is this: The nurse obtains lab results from tests drawn on admission including BNP 1275 pg/mL; K+ 5.4 mEq/L, creatinine 2.7 mg/dL, BUN 42 mg/dL. The nurse contacts the physician who orders a stat electrocardiogram which shows S-T changes. What action should the nurse take at this point? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!