Which statement is the primary goal of the emergency department (ED) nurse in caring for a client who has ingested a poison?
ExplanationCorrect answer A: The primary goal is to inactivate the poison before it is absorbed and causes permanent organ damage or death. The nurse should attempt to determine why the client ingested the poison, but this is not priority. Documentation is vital, but the nurse must first take care of the client. Eliminating the poison is not always priority; neutralizing the poison is
sometimes priority.
