A nurse is assessing a dark-skinned client for pallor. What action is best?
- A. Assess the conjunctiva of the eye.
- B. Have the client open the hand widely.
- C. Look at the roof of the client's mouth.
- D. Palpate for areas of mild swelling.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because assessing the conjunctiva of the eye is the best way to assess pallor in dark-skinned individuals. Pallor is difficult to detect on dark skin due to increased melanin. The conjunctiva is a mucous membrane that can show pallor regardless of skin tone. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because examining the hand, mouth, or palpating for swelling are not reliable methods for assessing pallor in dark-skinned individuals.
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A patient who is undergoing consolidation therapy for the treatment of leukemia has been experiencing debilitating fatigue. How can the nurse best meet this patient's needs for physical activity?
- A. Teach the patient about the risks of immobility and the benefits of exercise.
- B. Assist the patient to a chair during awake times, as tolerated.
- C. Collaborate with the physical therapist to arrange for stair exercises.
- D. Teach the patient to perform deep breathing and coughing exercises.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because assisting the patient to a chair during awake times, as tolerated, is the most appropriate intervention for a patient experiencing debilitating fatigue during consolidation therapy for leukemia. This option promotes mobility and prevents further deconditioning without overwhelming the patient.
A: Teaching about risks and benefits may not directly address the immediate need for physical activity.
C: Stair exercises may be too strenuous for a fatigued patient and could potentially exacerbate their condition.
D: Deep breathing and coughing exercises are important but do not directly address the need for physical activity to combat fatigue.
In a study to investigate the rates of central line–acquired bacterial infections, it is discovered that patient length of stay (LOS) is not normally distributed but is highly right-skewed. What is the correct relationship between the mean, median, and mode of LOS?
- A. The mean is less than the median but greater than the mode.
- B. The mean is equal to the median and the mode.
- C. The mean is greater than the median and mode.
- D. The mean and median will both be less than the mode.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: The mean is greater than the median and mode. In a highly right-skewed distribution, the mean is pulled towards the higher end by the extreme values, making it greater than the median, which is the middle value. The mode is the most frequent value, which is typically lower than the mean in a right-skewed distribution. In summary, the mean is influenced by extreme values, causing it to be greater than both the median and the mode in a highly right-skewed distribution.
You are consulted on a 4-year-old girl who is newly diagnosed with standard-risk pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia. After reviewing her previous complete blood examinations, you note she has had a platelet count ranging from 80,000 to 100,000 cells/mcL over the past 2 years. Her father mentions that he has also been told he has mild thrombocytopenia. You suspect the child may have a cancer predisposition syndrome. Which sample should you send for analysis, and which gene is most likely implicated?
- A. Skin fibroblasts to evaluate the RUNX1 gene
- B. Skin fibroblasts to evaluate the ETV6 gene
- C. Buccal swab to evaluate the RUNX1 gene
- D. Buccal swab to evaluate the ETV6 gene
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Skin fibroblasts to evaluate the ETV6 gene. In this scenario, the presence of mild thrombocytopenia in both the father and the child raises suspicion of a genetic predisposition. ETV6 gene mutations are commonly associated with inherited thrombocytopenia and predisposition to leukemia. Skin fibroblasts are ideal for genetic testing due to their stable genetic material. Choice A is incorrect as RUNX1 gene mutations are linked to familial platelet disorder with predisposition to acute myeloid leukemia, not pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Choices C and D are incorrect as buccal swabs may not provide sufficient genetic material for comprehensive analysis.
A 12-year-old patient with localized osteosarcoma is being treated with cisplatin, doxorubicin, and high-dose methotrexate. The pain at his primary site rapidly resolves after initiation of chemotherapy. After tumor resection, pathology reveals the tumor was greater than 95% necrotic. You want to continue cisplatin, doxorubicin, and high-dose methotrexate. Which of the following is the best answer regarding the evaluations that should be performed to monitor for toxicity in patients receiving cisplatin, doxorubicin, and high-dose methotrexate?
- A. Complete blood count, creatinine, liver function tests
- B. Complete blood count, serum electrolytes (sodium, potassium, BUN, chloride), and EKG to monitor for prolonged QTc
- C. Complete blood count, creatinine, serum magnesium, audiogram, and echocardiogram
- D. Complete blood count, creatinine, serum magnesium, chest x-ray
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because it includes essential evaluations to monitor for toxicity associated with cisplatin, doxorubicin, and high-dose methotrexate.
1. Complete blood count: To monitor for potential bone marrow suppression caused by chemotherapy drugs.
2. Creatinine: To assess renal function, as cisplatin can cause nephrotoxicity.
3. Serum magnesium: Monitoring for hypomagnesemia, a common side effect of cisplatin.
4. Audiogram: To screen for hearing loss, a known side effect of cisplatin.
5. Echocardiogram: To evaluate for cardiotoxicity, especially with doxorubicin known to cause cardiomyopathy.
Other choices are incorrect:
A: Does not include serum magnesium, audiogram, and echocardiogram, which are important for monitoring toxicity.
B: While electrolytes and EKG are relevant, it lacks creatinine, serum magnesium, and other crucial tests.
D:
Outstanding feature of ITP:
- A. fever
- B. gum bleeding
- C. moderate splenomegaly
- D. stema tenderness
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: gum bleeding. In immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), the hallmark feature is low platelet count leading to easy bruising and bleeding, including gum bleeding. Fever (choice A) is not a typical feature of ITP. Moderate splenomegaly (choice C) is less common in ITP. Stema tenderness (choice D) is not a recognized feature of ITP. Therefore, gum bleeding is the outstanding feature of ITP due to the primary underlying mechanism of platelet destruction.