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A client with a history of congestive heart failure (CHF) is admitted with fluid volume overload. Which assessment finding should the nurse report to the healthcare provider?
- A. Weight gain of 2 pounds in 24 hours
- B. Presence of a cough
- C. Edema in the lower extremities
- D. Shortness of breath
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Shortness of breath. This assessment finding is crucial in a client with CHF and fluid volume overload as it indicates potential worsening of heart failure leading to pulmonary congestion. Shortness of breath is a common symptom of fluid accumulation in the lungs, requiring immediate intervention to prevent respiratory distress.
A: Weight gain of 2 pounds in 24 hours may indicate fluid retention but is not as urgent as shortness of breath.
B: Presence of a cough can be a symptom of CHF but is not as specific or concerning as shortness of breath.
C: Edema in the lower extremities is also a common finding in CHF but does not directly signify acute respiratory compromise as shortness of breath does.
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A 59-year-old male client is brought to the emergency room where he is assessed to have a Glasgow Coma Scale of 3. Based on this assessment, how should the nurse characterize the client's condition?
- A. The client is experiencing increased intracranial pressure
- B. He has a good prognosis for recovery
- C. This client is conscious, but is not oriented to time and place
- D. He is in a coma, and has a very poor prognosis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3 indicates deep unconsciousness, which is classified as a coma. A GCS score of 3 signifies the lowest possible level of consciousness and is associated with a very poor prognosis due to the severity of neurological impairment. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Increased intracranial pressure may be present in comatose patients but is not solely indicated by a GCS score of 3. A good prognosis is unlikely with a GCS score of 3. Being unconscious with a GCS score of 3 does not equate to being conscious but disoriented as in choice C.
Which instruction should the nurse provide to an elderly client who is taking an ACE inhibitor and a calcium channel blocker?
- A. Wear long-sleeved clothing when outdoors
- B. Report the onset of sore throat
- C. Eat plenty of potassium-rich food
- D. Change the position slowly
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Change the position slowly. Elderly clients taking both ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers are at risk for orthostatic hypotension. Instructing them to change positions slowly helps prevent sudden drops in blood pressure and dizziness upon standing up.
A: Wearing long-sleeved clothing when outdoors is not directly related to the medications mentioned.
B: Reporting the onset of a sore throat is important for monitoring potential side effects of medications but not specific to the combination of ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers.
C: Eating plenty of potassium-rich foods is not typically contraindicated for clients taking ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers, but it is not the most essential instruction compared to preventing orthostatic hypotension.
In summary, changing position slowly is crucial to prevent orthostatic hypotension, which is a common side effect of these medications in elderly clients.
The nurse is caring for a 10-year-old diagnosed with acute glomerulonephritis. Which outcome is the priority for this child?
- A. Activity tolerance as evidenced by appropriate age-level activities being performed
- B. Absence of skin breakdown as evidenced by intact skin and absence of redness
- C. Maintaining adequate nutritional status as evidenced by stable weight without gain or loss
- D. Maintaining fluid balance as evidenced by a urine output of 1 to 2 ml/kg/hr
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. In acute glomerulonephritis, the kidneys are inflamed, affecting fluid balance. Monitoring urine output of 1 to 2 ml/kg/hr is crucial to assess kidney function and prevent fluid overload or dehydration. This is the priority outcome as it directly reflects kidney function and overall fluid balance.
A: Activity tolerance is important but not the priority in acute glomerulonephritis.
B: Absence of skin breakdown is important for overall health but not directly related to the condition.
C: Nutritional status is important, but fluid balance takes precedence in managing acute glomerulonephritis.
In summary, maintaining fluid balance is crucial in managing acute glomerulonephritis as it directly reflects kidney function, while the other options are important but not the priority in this scenario.
A client with an electrical burn on the forearm asks the nurse why there is no feeling of pain from the burn. During the dressing change, the nurse determines that the burn is dry, waxy, and white. What information should the nurse provide this client?
- A. The depth of tissue destruction is minor
- B. Pain is interrupted due to nerve compression
- C. The full thickness burn has destroyed the nerves
- D. Second-degree burns are not usually painful
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because full-thickness burns destroy nerve endings, resulting in the absence of pain sensation. The dry, waxy, and white appearance indicates tissue destruction extending through the epidermis and dermis. Choices A and D are incorrect because dry, waxy, and white appearance signifies a deeper burn, not a minor or superficial burn, and second-degree burns typically involve pain sensation. Choice B is incorrect as nerve compression does not explain the lack of pain sensation in a full-thickness burn.
A client receiving amlodipine (Norvasc), a calcium channel blocker, develops 1+ pitting edema around the ankles. It is most important for the nurse to obtain what additional client data?
- A. Bladder distention
- B. Serum albumin level
- C. Abdominal girth
- D. Breath sounds
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D (Breath sounds). Pitting edema is a common side effect of amlodipine due to vasodilation. It can also lead to pulmonary edema, causing shortness of breath and crackles on auscultation. Therefore, assessing breath sounds is crucial to detect any signs of fluid overload and potential pulmonary complications. Bladder distention (A) is not directly related to the client's current symptoms. Serum albumin level (B) may indicate protein status but is not immediately necessary in this case. Abdominal girth (C) is more indicative of ascites or abdominal distension, not directly related to the client's edema and possible pulmonary complications.