A client at risk for respiratory failure is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 6 L per minute. Arterial blood gas (ABG) results indicate pH 7.29, PcO2 49 mm Hg, Po2 58 mm Hg, and HCO3 18 mEq/L. What intervention should the nurse anticipate that the primary health care provider will prescribe for respiratory support for this client?
- A. Intubating for mechanical ventilation
- B. Keeping the oxygen at 6 L per minute via nasal cannula
- C. Lowering the oxygen to 4 L per minute via nasal cannula
- D. Adding a partial rebreather mask to the current prescription
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: If respiratory failure occurs and supplemental oxygen cannot maintain acceptable PaO2 and PaCO2 levels, endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation are necessary. The client is exhibiting respiratory acidosis, metabolic acidosis, and hypoxemia. Lowering or keeping the oxygen at the same liter flow will not improve the client's condition. A partial rebreather mask will raise CO2 levels even further.
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The clinic nurse prepares to assess a client who is in the second trimester of pregnancy. When measuring the fundal height, what should the nurse expect to note with this measurement regarding gestational age?
- A. It is less than gestational age.
- B. It correlates with gestational age.
- C. It is greater than gestational age.
- D. It has no correlation with gestational age.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Until the third trimester, the measurement of fundal height will, on average, correlate with the gestational age. Therefore, options 1, 3, and 4 are incorrect.
A child diagnosed with rheumatic fever is admitted to the hospital. The nurse prepares to manage which clinical manifestations of this disorder? Select all that apply.
- A. Cardiac murmur
- B. Cardiac enlargement
- C. Cool pale skin over the joints
- D. White painful skin lesions on the trunk
- E. Small nontender lumps on bony prominences
- F. Purposeless jerky movements of the extremities and face
Correct Answer: A,B,E,F
Rationale: Rheumatic fever is a systemic inflammatory disease that may develop as a delayed reaction to an inadequately treated infection of the upper respiratory tract by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. Clinical manifestations of rheumatic fever are related to the inflammatory response. Major manifestations include carditis manifested as inflammation of the endocardium, including the valves, myocardium, and pericardium; cardiac murmur and cardiac enlargement; subcutaneous nodules, manifested as small nontender lumps on joints and bony prominences; chorea, manifested as involuntary, purposeless jerky movements of the legs, arms, and face with speech impairment; arthritis manifested as tender, warm erythematous skin over the joints; and erythema marginatum, manifested as red, painless skin lesions usually over the trunk.
The home care nurse assesses a client diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who is reporting increased dyspnea. The client is on home oxygen via a concentrator at 2 L per minute, and has a respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute. Which action should the nurse take?
- A. Determine the need to increase the oxygen.
- B. Reassure the client that there is no need to worry.
- C. Conduct further assessment of the client's respiratory status.
- D. Call emergency services to take the client to the emergency department.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: With the client's respiratory rate at 22 breaths per minute, the nurse should obtain further assessment. Oxygen is not increased without the approval of the primary health care provider, especially because the client with COPD can retain carbon dioxide. Reassuring the client that there is 'no need to worry' is inappropriate. Calling emergency services is a premature action.
A client is admitted after attempting suicide by ingesting a prescribed antipsychotic medication. What is the most important piece of information the nurse should obtain initially?
- A. Where and when the medication was ingested
- B. The name and amount of ingested medication
- C. If the client continues to have suicidal ideations
- D. If there is a history of previous suicidal attempts
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In an emergency, lifesaving facts are obtained first. The name of and the amount of medication ingested is of utmost importance in treating this potentially life-threatening situation. The remaining data can be assessed once the client's physical condition is stabilized.
The nurse is reviewing the record of a client with a disorder involving the inner ear. Which finding should the nurse most likely note as an assessment finding in this client?
- A. Tinnitus
- B. Burning in the ear
- C. Itching in the affected ear
- D. Severe pain in the affected ear
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Tinnitus is the most common complaint of clients with ear disorders, especially disorders involving the inner ear. Manifestations of tinnitus can range from mild ringing in the ear that can go unnoticed during the day to a loud roaring in the ear that can interfere with the client's thinking process and attention span. The assessment findings noted in options 2, 3, and 4 are not specifically noted in the client with an inner ear disorder.
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