A client has a new cast on the left arm, and the nurse is assessing the client. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider immediately?
- A. Increased warmth in the affected arm
- B. Itching under the cast
- C. Pain with passive movement
- D. Drainage on the cast
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Pain with passive movement. Pain with passive movement in a client with a new cast can indicate compartment syndrome, a serious condition where pressure builds up within the muscles, nerves, and blood vessels of the affected limb, potentially leading to tissue damage. Immediate reporting is crucial to prevent further complications. Increased warmth in the affected arm could be a normal inflammatory response to the injury and casting process. Itching under the cast is common and can be managed without immediate concern. Drainage on the cast may be expected initially after casting due to residual moisture from the setting process, but ongoing or excessive drainage should be monitored and reported if persistent.
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A healthcare professional is supervising the logrolling of a patient. To which patient is the healthcare professional most likely providing care?
- A. A patient with neck surgery
- B. A patient with hypostatic pneumonia
- C. A patient with a total knee replacement
- D. A patient with a stage IV pressure ulcer
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Logrolling is a technique used to move a patient as a single unit to prevent twisting or bending of the spine. Patients who have undergone neck surgery require special care to ensure the spinal column remains in straight alignment to prevent further injury. Therefore, the correct answer is a patient with neck surgery. Choice B, a patient with hypostatic pneumonia, does not require logrolling, as it is a condition affecting the lungs, not the spine. Choice C, a patient with a total knee replacement, does not typically necessitate logrolling, as the procedure focuses on the knee joint, not the spine. Choice D, a patient with a stage IV pressure ulcer, requires wound care but does not necessarily involve logrolling unless the ulcer is located in a critical area that requires special handling.
A healthcare professional is preparing to transfer a client who can bear weight on one leg from the bed to a chair. After securing a safe environment, which of the following actions should the healthcare professional take next?
- A. Assess the client for orthostatic hypotension
- B. Obtain a gait belt
- C. Ensure the client has proper footwear
- D. Ask the client to perform range-of-motion exercises
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Assessing the client for orthostatic hypotension is the priority before transferring a client who can bear weight on one leg. This assessment helps identify the risk of dizziness or fainting when the client moves from a supine to an upright position. Obtaining a gait belt may be necessary for the transfer, but assessing for orthostatic hypotension comes first to ensure the safety of the client. Ensuring the client has proper footwear is important for preventing falls during ambulation but is not the immediate next step in this situation. Asking the client to perform range-of-motion exercises is not necessary before the transfer and does not address the immediate safety concern of orthostatic hypotension.
A client diagnosed with a terminal illness asks the nurse about the nurse's religious beliefs related to death and dying. An appropriate nursing response is to:
- A. Share personal beliefs
- B. Encourage the client to express their thoughts about death and dying
- C. Redirect the conversation to medical treatment
- D. Inform the client that the nurse's beliefs are not relevant
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Encouraging the client to express their own thoughts about death and dying is an appropriate nursing response in this situation. It allows the client to explore and express their feelings, fears, and beliefs, facilitating a therapeutic conversation. Sharing personal beliefs (choice A) may not be appropriate as it could impose the nurse's beliefs on the client and hinder open discussion. Redirecting the conversation to medical treatment (choice C) may avoid addressing the client's emotional and spiritual needs. Informing the client that the nurse's beliefs are not relevant (choice D) dismisses the client's concerns and does not encourage open communication.
A healthcare professional is admitting a client who has decreased circulation in his left leg. Which of the following actions should the healthcare professional take first?
- A. Evaluate pedal pulses
- B. Assess skin temperature
- C. Check for capillary refill
- D. Measure the leg circumference
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Evaluating pedal pulses should be the first action taken as it provides immediate information about circulation. This assessment helps in determining the adequacy of blood flow in the client's leg. Assessing skin temperature, checking for capillary refill, and measuring leg circumference are important assessments; however, evaluating pedal pulses is the most crucial initial step in this scenario. Skin temperature assessment and capillary refill check can provide additional valuable information about perfusion, while measuring leg circumference is useful in monitoring for edema. Therefore, for a client with decreased circulation in the left leg, evaluating pedal pulses takes precedence over the other assessments.
A nurse is preparing to administer enoxaparin subcutaneously. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
- A. Administer the medication with the needle at a 45-degree angle.
- B. Administer the medication with the needle at a 90-degree angle.
- C. Administer the medication with the needle at a 30-degree angle.
- D. Administer the medication with the needle at a 15-degree angle.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Enoxaparin should be administered with the needle at a 90-degree angle to ensure proper subcutaneous delivery. Choice B is correct as it aligns with the recommended angle for subcutaneous injections. Administering enoxaparin at a 45-degree angle (Choice A), 30-degree angle (Choice C), or 15-degree angle (Choice D) would not be appropriate and may lead to improper administration or absorption of the medication.