Chronic Illness NCLEX Questions Related

Review Chronic Illness NCLEX Questions related questions and content

A nurse in a hematology clinic is working with four clients who have polycythemia vera. Which client should the nurse see first?

  • A. A client with a swollen and painful left great toe
  • B. Client who reports dyspnea
  • C. Client with a blood pressure of 180/98 mm Hg
  • D. Client who reports calf tenderness and swelling
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Polycythemia vera thickens blood, risking clots dyspnea signals possible pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening emergency needing instant assessment per ABCs. Toe pain suggests gout, common but less acute. Hypertension, a chronic issue here, waits behind respiratory distress. Calf tenderness hints at DVT, urgent but not immediately fatal like embolism. Nurses triage dyspnea first, ensuring airway and oxygenation, a critical call in this hyperviscous condition prone to thrombotic crises.