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A nurse is reviewing vital signs obtained by an assistive personnel on a group of clients. Which of the following changes should the nurse identify as the priority finding?
- A. Heart rate change from 110/min to 68/min
- B. Respiratory rate change from 12/min to 20/min
- C. Blood pressure change from 118/78 mm Hg to 86/50 mm Hg
- D. Temperature change from 36.6°C (97.9°F) to 38.8°C (101.9°F)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Blood pressure dropping to 86/50 mm Hg from 118/78 signals hypotension, risking organ perfusion a circulation priority per ABCs. Heart rate falling to 68 from 110 may normalize post-tachycardia, less urgent without distress. Respiratory rate rising to 20 from 12 suggests compensation, but hypotension trumps breathing acuity. Fever at 38.8°C indicates infection, but hemodynamic instability is more immediate shock or bleeding needs rapid action. This finding drives urgent assessment (e.g., fluids, vasopressors), aligning with triage protocols, making it the nurse's top concern.
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A nurse administered a dose of penicillin to a client 30 min ago. The client reports she has hives and is itching. Which of the following statements by the nurse is the highest priority?
- A. I'm going to take your heart rate.
- B. I need to give you diphenhydramine.
- C. Are you having difficulty breathing?
- D. Do you have any allergies to medications?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Asking about difficulty breathing is the priority as it assesses for anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction to penicillin, requiring immediate intervention.
Diagnostic Results
Day 1:
X-ray of right leg: open spiral tibial shaft fracture
For each finding, click to specify if the finding is consistent with acute compartment syndrome, infection, and/or fat embolism syndrome. Finding: Dyspnea
- A. Dyspnea
- B. Tingling sensation to right foot
- C. Increased pain at incision site
- D. Swelling at incision site
Correct Answer:
Rationale: Dyspnea is a hallmark of fat embolism syndrome due to pulmonary involvement.
A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who is postoperative following a fasciotomy. Which of the following interventions should the nurse plan to include?
- A. Provide a diet of pureed foods.
- B. Assist the client to the restroom 30 min after meals.
- C. Offer small, frequent meals.
- D. Instruct the client to avoid sexual intercourse until the cervix is healed.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Post-fasciotomy care focuses on pain management, wound healing, and monitoring for complications like infection or compartment syndrome recurrence, not dietary or reproductive restrictions. Offering small, frequent meals supports nutritional needs without overloading the stomach, aiding recovery by maintaining energy for tissue repair, especially if appetite is reduced from pain or medications. A pureed diet is unnecessary unless swallowing is impaired, which isn't indicated here fasciotomy addresses limb pressure, not GI issues. Assisting to the restroom post-meals relates to bowel training, irrelevant to this surgical context. Avoiding sexual intercourse applies to pelvic procedures like colposcopy, not a limb fasciotomy. Small, frequent meals align with postoperative principles, promoting healing and comfort, making it the most relevant intervention for this client's plan of care, enhancing overall recovery without complicating the surgical focus.
A nurse is assisting with the transfer of a client from a medical-surgical unit to an intensive care unit following a change in status. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the transfer documentation?
- A. Number of family members who have visited
- B. Primary health problem
- C. Admission vital signs from 1 week ago
- D. Scheduled times for dressing changes
- E. Current medication prescriptions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Transfer documentation ensures continuity of care, focusing on critical, current data for the receiving team. The primary health problem is essential it summarizes why the client's status changed (e.g., respiratory failure, sepsis), guiding ICU interventions. Number of family members who visited is irrelevant to clinical management; it's a social detail, not a priority. Admission vital signs from a week ago are outdated current vitals matter more, especially with a status change. Scheduled dressing changes are useful but secondary to understanding the underlying condition driving the transfer. Identifying the primary issue provides context for the client's deterioration, aligns with handoff standards like SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation), and ensures the ICU team addresses the root cause immediately. This focus on relevance enhances patient safety, reduces miscommunication, and supports rapid response in a critical setting, making it the most vital piece of transfer information.
A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has viral meningitis. Which of the following interventions should the nurse recommend?
- A. Measure the client's intake and output every 8 hr.
- B. Dim the lighting in the client's room.
- C. Monitor the client's temperature every 6 hr.
- D. Initiate contact precautions for the client.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Dimming the lighting reduces photophobia, a common symptom of viral meningitis, improving client comfort. Intake/output and temperature monitoring are useful but less specific, and contact precautions are not typically required for viral meningitis.