Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice 6th Edition - Addiction and Substance-Related Disorders Related

Review Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice 6th Edition - Addiction and Substance-Related Disorders related questions and content

A client is brought into the emergency department because he was involved in an automobile accident. His blood alcohol level (BAL) is 0.10 mg %. Based on this finding, the nurse would expect to assess which of the following?

  • A. Difficulty with coordination
  • B. Stupor
  • C. Emotional lability
  • D. Ataxia
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: A BAL of 0.10 mg % (0.10 g/dL) typically causes difficulty with coordination (A), such as impaired motor skills. Stupor (B) occurs at higher levels (e.g., >0.30), emotional lability (C) is less specific, and ataxia (D) is more severe and less common at this level.