A nurse assesses clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which client is at greatest risk for pressure ulcer development?
- A. A 44-year-old prescribed IV antibiotics for pneumonia
- B. A 26-year-old who is bedridden with a fractured leg
- C. A 65-year-old with hemiplegia and incontinence
- D. A 78-year-old requiring assistance to ambulate with a walker
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Being immobile and being incontinent are two significant risk factors for the development of pressure ulcers. The client with pneumonia does not have specific risk factors. The young client who has a fractured leg and the client who needs assistance with ambulation might be at moderate risk if they do not move about much, but having two risk factors makes the 65-year-old the person at highest risk.
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A nurse assesses clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which client should the nurse evaluate for a wound infection?
- A. Client with blood cultures pending
- B. Client who has thin, serous wound drainage
- C. Client with a white blood cell count of 23,000/mm^3
- D. Client transferred from intensive care with an elevated white blood cell count
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An elevated white blood cell count, such as 23,000/mm^3, indicates a potential infection. The nurse should evaluate this client for signs of a wound infection, as an elevated white blood cell count is a strong indicator of an infectious process.
A nurse is planning care for a client with a sacral pressure ulcer. Which interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Place a small pillow between bony surfaces.
- B. Elevate the head of the bed to 45 degrees.
- C. Limit fluids and proteins in the diet.
- D. Use a lift sheet to assist with re-positioning.
- E. Re-position the client who is in a chair every 2 hours.
- F. Keep the clients heels off the bed surfaces.
- G. Use a rubber ring to decrease sacral pressure when up in the chair.
Correct Answer: A,D,F
Rationale: A small pillow decreases the risk for pressure between bony prominences, a lift sheet decreases friction and shear, and keeping heels off the bed reduces pressure on high-risk areas. Limiting fluids and proteins is not appropriate as they are essential for tissue integrity. Clients should be repositioned every hour while in a chair, not every 2 hours. A rubber ring impairs capillary blood flow, increasing pressure sore risk.
A nurse prepares to admit a client who has herpes zoster. Which actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Prepare a room for reverse isolation.
- B. Assess staff for a history of or vaccination for chickenpox.
- C. Check the admission orders for analgesia.
- D. Choose a roommate who also is immune suppressed.
- E. Ensure that gloves are available in the room.
Correct Answer: B,C,E
Rationale: Herpes zoster (shingles) is caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, and staff without immunity to chickenpox are at risk. Analgesia is necessary due to the painful nature of shingles. Gloves and hand hygiene prevent spread, but reverse isolation is not required. An immune-suppressed roommate should be avoided to prevent infection transmission.
A nurse assesses a client who presents with an increase in psoriatic lesions. Which questions should the nurse ask to identify a possible trigger for worsening of this clients psoriatic lesions? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Have you eaten a large amount of chocolate lately?
- B. Have you been under a lot of stress lately?
- C. Have you recently used a public shower?
- D. Have you been out of the country recently?
- E. Have you recently had any other health problems?
- F. Have you changed any medications recently?
Correct Answer: B,E,F
Rationale: Systemic factors, hormonal changes, psychological stress, medications, and general health factors can aggravate psoriasis. Psoriatic lesions are not triggered by chocolate, public showers, or international travel.
A nurse evaluates the following data in a clients chart: 66-year-old male with a health history of cerebral vascular accident and left-side paralysis, white blood cell count: 8000/mm^3, prealbumin: 15.2 mg/dL, albumin: 4.2 g/dL, lymphocyte count: 2000/mm^3, sacral ulcer 4 cm x 2 cm x 1.5 cm. Based on this information, which action should the nurse take?
- A. Consult a dietitian to increase nutritional intake.
- B. Apply a transparent film dressing to the ulcer.
- C. Reposition the client every 4 hours.
- D. Administer antibiotics for wound infection.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The prealbumin level of 15.2 mg/dL is low (normal range is typically 15"?36 mg/dL), indicating potential malnutrition, which can impair wound healing. Consulting a dietitian to optimize nutritional intake is the priority to support tissue repair. The white blood cell count is normal, so antibiotics are not indicated. Transparent film dressings are not suitable for deep ulcers, and repositioning should occur more frequently than every 4 hours.
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