Question

A 55-year-old female is admitted to the emergency room complaining of indigestion and back and shoulder pain. She tells the nurse that she has taken several antacids for the past two days without relief of her symptoms. Which action would be most appropriate at this time? A. Ask the client if she has a history of gastric ulcers B. Allow the client to rest undisturbed C. Take the client's vital signs and contact the physician D. Obtain a history to rule out a hiatal hernia

Short answer

Answer: The most appropriate action to take in this situation is to take the client's vital signs and contact the physician.

Step-by-step solution

Evaluate option A (Ask the client if she has a history of gastric ulcers)

While asking the patient about her medical history, including gastric ulcers, could provide useful information, it may not be the most immediate and appropriate action to take considering the patient is in the emergency room and has been in pain for the past two days.

Evaluate option B (Allow the client to rest undisturbed)

Allowing the patient to rest could provide some relief; however, it may not address the underlying cause of her symptoms or provide the necessary immediate medical attention needed given she has already tried antacids without relief.

Evaluate option C (Take the client's vital signs and contact the physician)

This option involves assessing the patient's vital signs and informing the physician about the situation. This action would help to prioritize the patient's care and ensure that she receives immediate medical attention. Considering her symptoms and the fact that she is unrelieved by antacids, contacting the physician would be the most appropriate first step to take.

Evaluate option D (Obtain a history to rule out a hiatal hernia)

While obtaining a history to rule out a hiatal hernia may be helpful in diagnosing the patient's condition, it is not the most appropriate immediate action to take. Assessing the patient's vital signs and informing the physician of her symptoms would take precedence in an emergency room setting.

Choose the most appropriate action

Based on the evaluation of each option, the most appropriate action to take at this time would be option C: Take the client's vital signs and contact the physician. This action ensures that the patient receives the necessary immediate medical attention in the emergency room setting.