A client with peripheral vascular disease reports leg pain while walking. What intervention is most effective for the nurse to recommend?
- A. Recommend elevating the legs above the heart.
- B. Encourage the client to increase walking distance gradually.
- C. Encourage the client to avoid sitting or standing for long periods.
- D. Instruct the client to use warm compresses for pain relief.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is to encourage the client to increase walking distance gradually. This intervention is effective because gradual increases in walking distance promote circulation, improve oxygen delivery to tissues, and help reduce leg pain caused by peripheral vascular disease. Elevating the legs above the heart (Choice A) may be beneficial in other conditions like venous insufficiency but not specifically for peripheral vascular disease. Encouraging the client to avoid sitting or standing for long periods (Choice C) can help prevent blood pooling but does not directly address the walking-induced leg pain. Instructing the client to use warm compresses for pain relief (Choice D) may provide temporary relief but does not address the underlying circulation issues associated with peripheral vascular disease.
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A client with rheumatoid arthritis has just been prescribed methotrexate. What teaching should the nurse include?
- A. Take the medication on an empty stomach.
- B. Report any signs of infection, such as a sore throat.
- C. Take folic acid supplements to prevent anemia.
- D. Use sunscreen to prevent photosensitivity.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: 'Use sunscreen to prevent photosensitivity.' Methotrexate increases photosensitivity, so clients should be advised to use sunscreen to protect their skin from sun exposure. Choice A is incorrect because methotrexate is usually taken with food to reduce gastrointestinal side effects. Choice B may be important but is not specific to methotrexate therapy. Choice C is also important, but the primary reason for folic acid supplementation with methotrexate is to reduce the risk of certain side effects like anemia rather than preventing anemia itself.
Prior to obtaining a trapeze bar for a client with limited mobility, which client assessment is most important for the nurse to obtain?
- A. Balance and coordination
- B. Cognitive status
- C. Level of pain
- D. Upper body muscle strength
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Upper body muscle strength. The ability to use a trapeze bar requires adequate upper body strength to support the weight and facilitate repositioning. While assessing pain, coordination, and cognitive status are important, the priority is determining if the client can physically manage the trapeze bar safely. Without sufficient upper body muscle strength, the client may not be able to use the trapeze bar effectively and safely. Assessing balance and coordination is also important but secondary to ensuring the client has the required upper body strength. Cognitive status is crucial for understanding instructions related to using the trapeze bar, but it is not the most critical assessment in this scenario. Pain assessment is essential for overall care but does not directly impact the client's ability to use a trapeze bar like upper body muscle strength does.
Prior to administering warfarin to a client with a history of atrial fibrillation, what lab result should the nurse review?
- A. White blood cell count.
- B. Prothrombin time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR).
- C. Hemoglobin and hematocrit.
- D. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Prothrombin time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR). These lab values are crucial for monitoring the effectiveness of warfarin, an anticoagulant medication. PT measures the time it takes for blood to clot, while INR standardizes these results. Ensuring the client's PT/INR levels are within the therapeutic range is essential to prevent clotting or excessive bleeding. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they are not directly related to monitoring warfarin therapy in a client with atrial fibrillation.
The nurse is caring for a client with fluid overload. The most reliable indicator of fluid volume status is
- A. Body weight
- B. Intake and output
- C. Daily weight
- D. Skin turgor
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Daily weight is the most reliable indicator of fluid volume status as it reflects changes in body fluid balance accurately. Body weight alone can fluctuate due to various factors, including food intake and bowel movements, which may not accurately represent fluid status. Intake and output provide information on fluid balance over time but may not reflect immediate changes. Skin turgor is a physical assessment finding that indicates hydration status, not overall fluid volume status.
What is the expected outcome of prescribing a proton pump inhibitor to a client with a peptic ulcer?
- A. Promote healing of the gastric mucosa.
- B. Neutralize the effects of stomach acid.
- C. Inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori.
- D. Reduce gastric acid secretion.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Reduce gastric acid secretion. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) work by reducing gastric acid secretion, which helps prevent further irritation of the gastric mucosa and allows ulcers to heal. While promoting healing of the gastric mucosa (Choice A) is an indirect outcome of reducing gastric acid secretion, the primary mechanism of PPIs is to lower acid levels. Choice B, neutralizing the effects of stomach acid, is typically associated with antacids, not PPIs. Inhibiting the growth of Helicobacter pylori (Choice C) is usually achieved with antibiotics, not PPIs.