When should a resident's vomit be shown to a nurse before being discarded?

When should a resident's vomit be shown to a nurse before being discarded?

• A. If a resident has lived at the facility less than two months
• B. If a resident is undergoing chemotherapy
• C. If it contains water
• D. If it contains blood

Answer: (D)

Noticing signs in bodily fluids that indicate a possible medical issue is essential in caregiving. Blood in vomit is a red flag for a potential internal GI bleed or other serious condition. Because this could require immediate nursing assessment, the vomit should be shown to a nurse before discarding so they can evaluate, document, and decide on the appropriate steps. The other situations don’t by themselves indicate a need for nurse review of the vomit: how long the resident has lived at the facility isn’t related to the clinical significance of vomiting, undergoing chemotherapy can cause nausea but doesn’t automatically mean you should bypass reporting when blood is present, and vomiting that contains only water isn’t a safety concern needing clinician evaluation. If there’s any blood in vomit, report it promptly according to facility policy.

Noticing signs in bodily fluids that indicate a possible medical issue is essential in caregiving. Blood in vomit is a red flag for a potential internal GI bleed or other serious condition. Because this could require immediate nursing assessment, the vomit should be shown to a nurse before discarding so they can evaluate, document, and decide on the appropriate steps.

The other situations don’t by themselves indicate a need for nurse review of the vomit: how long the resident has lived at the facility isn’t related to the clinical significance of vomiting, undergoing chemotherapy can cause nausea but doesn’t automatically mean you should bypass reporting when blood is present, and vomiting that contains only water isn’t a safety concern needing clinician evaluation. If there’s any blood in vomit, report it promptly according to facility policy.