Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 81%
Simulated
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving diazepam for moderate (conscious) sedation. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to assess for an adverse reaction to the medication?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
The correct answer is C: Monitor the client's oxygen saturation. When a client is receiving diazepam for conscious sedation, respiratory depression is a potential adverse reaction due to the medication's central nervous system depressant effects. Monitoring the client's oxygen saturation helps the nurse assess for any signs of respiratory compromise. This is crucial as early detection can prevent further complications.
Other choices are incorrect because:
A: Monitoring for seizure activity is not a common adverse reaction to diazepam in the context of conscious sedation.
B: Checking urinary output is unrelated to assessing adverse reactions to diazepam.
D: Auscultating bowel sounds is not relevant in assessing adverse reactions to diazepam for conscious sedation.
Other choices are incorrect because:
A: Monitoring for seizure activity is not a common adverse reaction to diazepam in the context of conscious sedation.
B: Checking urinary output is unrelated to assessing adverse reactions to diazepam.
D: Auscultating bowel sounds is not relevant in assessing adverse reactions to diazepam for conscious sedation.