Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 78%
Simulated
The nurse admits a client who is in sickle cell crisis. The nurse should prepare for which intervention as a priority in the management of the client?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
The priority nursing intervention for a client in sickle cell crisis is to administer supplemental oxygen because the client is hypoxemic, and as a result, the red blood cells change to the sickle shape. In addition, oxygen is the priority because airway and breathing are more important than circulatory needs. The nurse also plans for fluid therapy to promote hydration and reverse the agglutination of sickled cells, opioid analgesics for relief from severe pain, and blood transfusions (rather than iron administration) to increase the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity.