A client with cancer has a history of alcohol abuse and is taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain. Which organ function is most important for the nurse to monitor?
- A. Cardiorespiratory.
- B. Liver.
- C. Sensory.
- D. Kidney.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Liver. The nurse should monitor liver function in this client because acetaminophen is primarily metabolized in the liver. Alcohol abuse can also contribute to liver damage, increasing the risk of liver toxicity from acetaminophen. Monitoring liver function tests like AST, ALT, and bilirubin levels can help detect any liver damage early.
Choice A, cardiorespiratory, is not directly related to acetaminophen or alcohol abuse in this scenario. Choice C, sensory, is not relevant to monitoring organ function in this context. Choice D, kidney, is not the primary concern because acetaminophen is mainly metabolized in the liver, and kidney function is not typically affected by acetaminophen use.
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In assessing a patient, the nurse understands that what sym ptomology is an early sign of hypoxemia?
- A. Clubbing of nail beds
- B. Cyanosis
- C. Hypotension
- D. Restlessness
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Step 1: Restlessness is an early sign of hypoxemia due to the body's response to low oxygen levels.
Step 2: Restlessness occurs as the body tries to increase oxygen intake.
Step 3: Other choices are incorrect because clubbing and cyanosis are late signs, while hypotension is not a specific early sign of hypoxemia.
A 75-year-old patient, who suffered a massive stroke 3 weeks ago, has been unresponsive and
- A. The primary health care provider has approached the spouse regarding placement of a perma nent feeding tube. The spouse states that the patient never wanted to be kept alive by tub es and personally didn’t want what was being done. After holding a family conference with th e spouse, the medical team concurs and the feeding tube is not placed. What term would be used to describe this situation?
- B. Euthanasia
- C. Palliative care
- D. Withdrawal of life support
Correct Answer: E
Rationale: Step 1: The scenario describes a decision made based on the patient's previously expressed wishes.
Step 2: The decision aligns with the principle of respecting patient autonomy.
Step 3: The term that best describes this situation is "Advance Directive."
Summary:
- A: Incorrect, as it involves actively ending the patient's life without their consent.
- B: Incorrect, as euthanasia involves intentionally causing death to relieve suffering.
- C: Incorrect, as palliative care focuses on improving quality of life for the patient.
- D: Incorrect, as withdrawal of life support involves discontinuing medical interventions, not honoring the patient's wishes.
The nurse is assessing a client who complains of weight loss, racing heart rate, and difficulty sleeping. The nurse determines the client has moist skin with fine hair, prominent eyes, lid retraction, and a staring expression. These findings are consistent with which disorder?
- A. Grave's disease.
- B. Multiple sclerosis.
- C. Addison's disease.
- D. Cushing syndrome.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step 1: Symptoms of weight loss, racing heart rate, and difficulty sleeping are common in hyperthyroidism.
Step 2: Presence of moist skin, fine hair, prominent eyes, lid retraction, and staring expression are classic signs of Grave's disease, a type of hyperthyroidism.
Step 3: Grave's disease is an autoimmune disorder where the thyroid gland is overactive, leading to excessive production of thyroid hormones.
Step 4: Excess thyroid hormones increase metabolic rate, causing weight loss, racing heart rate, and insomnia.
Step 5: Therefore, the findings described in the question are consistent with Grave's disease.
A 53-year-old, 80-kg patient is admitted to the cardiac sur gical intensive care unit after cardiac surgery with the following arterial blood gas (ABG ) levels. What is the nurse’s interpretation of these values? pH 7.4 PaCO 40 mm Hg Bicarbonate 24 mEq/L PaO 95 mm Hg O saturation 97% Respirations 20 breaths per minute
- A. Compensated metabolic acidosis
- B. Metabolic alkalosis
- C. Normal ABG values
- D. Respiratory acidosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct interpretation is C: Normal ABG values.
1. pH is within the normal range of 7.35-7.45.
2. PaCO2 is 40 mm Hg, within the normal range of 35-45 mm Hg.
3. Bicarbonate is 24 mEq/L, within the normal range of 22-26 mEq/L.
4. PaO2 is 95 mm Hg, within the normal range of 80-100 mm Hg.
5. Oxygen saturation is 97%, which is normal.
6. Respirations are also within the normal range at 20 breaths per minute.
Overall, all values fall within the normal range, indicating a well-maintained acid-base balance. Other choices are incorrect because there are no abnormalities that would suggest compensated metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, or respiratory acidosis based on the given ABG values.
The patient has elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine levels with a normal BUN/creatinine ratio. These levels most likely indicate
- A. increased nitrogen intake.
- B. acute kidney injury, such as acute tubular necrosis (ATN).
- C. hypovolemia.
- D. fluid resuscitation.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The elevated BUN and creatinine levels with a normal BUN/creatinine ratio indicate impaired kidney function. This pattern is commonly seen in acute kidney injury, such as acute tubular necrosis (ATN). In ATN, there is damage to the renal tubules leading to decreased excretion of waste products, resulting in elevated BUN and creatinine levels. The normal BUN/creatinine ratio suggests that the impairment is due to renal tubular dysfunction rather than prerenal causes like hypovolemia or postrenal causes like urinary obstruction. Increased nitrogen intake would not produce this specific pattern of results. Fluid resuscitation would likely result in dilution of BUN and creatinine levels, leading to lower values.