If a nurse suspects an air embolism in a client receiving parenteral nutrition, how should the client be positioned?

Positioning a client suspected of having an air embolism is critical in managing this potentially life-threatening situation. The correct position, which is with the client lying on their left side with the head lower than the feet, helps to prevent the air from traveling to the right side of the heart and subsequently entering the pulmonary circulation. This positioning takes advantage of the anatomy of the heart and blood vessels.

When a person is in this position, gravity helps to keep the air bubble trapped in the venous system, minimizing the risk of it entering the right atrium and migrating to the pulmonary arteries. This is particularly important because if the air embolism reaches the lungs, it can cause a blockage of blood flow, leading to serious complications such as respiratory distress or cardiovascular collapse.

Other positions are less effective in managing an air embolism. Lying on the right side could facilitate the movement of the air ventrally towards the heart, while the supine position does not leverage gravity to help keep the bubble contained. Sitting upright may also increase the risk of the air moving toward critical areas of the circulation, rather than keeping it in a safer position. Thus, the left lateral position with the head down is the most appropriate approach for this emergency.