Nokea
After a thyroidectomy, which vital sign is the most important for the nurse to monitor closely?
- A. Monitor respiratory rate and rhythm.
- B. Assess for signs of hypocalcemia.
- C. Monitor for elevated body temperature.
- D. Check blood pressure every 30 minutes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Assess for signs of hypocalcemia. After a thyroidectomy, monitoring for hypocalcemia is crucial because damage to the parathyroid glands during surgery can result in low calcium levels, which may cause life-threatening complications. Monitoring respiratory rate and rhythm (choice A) is important but not the most critical in this situation. Monitoring for elevated body temperature (choice C) is less of a priority post-thyroidectomy. Checking blood pressure every 30 minutes (choice D) is not as vital as monitoring for hypocalcemia in this context.
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A client reports dizziness when standing up quickly. What advice should the nurse give?
- A. Encourage the client to drink more fluids.
- B. Change positions slowly to prevent dizziness.
- C. Report the symptom to the healthcare provider immediately.
- D. Limit physical activity to avoid triggering dizziness.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct advice for a client experiencing dizziness when standing up quickly is to change positions slowly to prevent dizziness. This symptom is suggestive of postural hypotension, where a sudden change in position can lead to a drop in blood pressure, causing dizziness. Encouraging the client to drink more fluids (Choice A) may be beneficial for other conditions but is not directly related to the prevention of dizziness in this case. Reporting the symptom to the healthcare provider immediately (Choice C) is important if the dizziness is persistent or severe, but the immediate action to prevent it is to change positions slowly. Limiting physical activity (Choice D) may not necessarily address the underlying cause of dizziness in this context.
Before administering digoxin to a client with heart failure, what is the most important assessment for the nurse to perform?
- A. Check the client's blood pressure
- B. Monitor the client's heart rate
- C. Assess the client's respiratory rate
- D. Review the client's potassium level
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is to monitor the client's heart rate. Digoxin slows the heart rate, so it is crucial to assess the heart rate before administering the medication. If the heart rate is below 60 beats per minute, the dose should be held, and the healthcare provider should be notified. Checking the blood pressure (Choice A) is important but not as crucial as monitoring the heart rate in this case. Assessing the respiratory rate (Choice C) is not directly related to the action of digoxin. Reviewing the client's potassium level (Choice D) is important for clients taking digoxin due to the risk of hypokalemia, but assessing the heart rate takes priority.
A client who gave birth 48 hours ago has decided to bottle-feed the infant. The nurse observes that both breasts were swollen, warm, and tender on palpation during the assessment. Which instruction should the nurse provide?
- A. Take warm showers to reduce swelling
- B. Wear a tight-fitting bra for support
- C. Apply ice to the breasts for comfort
- D. Express milk manually to relieve discomfort
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is to advise the client to apply ice to the breasts for comfort. Applying ice can help reduce swelling and discomfort associated with engorgement in a woman who is not breastfeeding. Expressing milk manually would stimulate further milk production, which is not desired in this case. Wearing a tight bra could increase discomfort by putting pressure on the engorged breasts. Warm showers may actually increase swelling due to the vasodilation effect of heat.
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.
The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with asthma. Which statement indicates the client understands how to use a rescue inhaler?
- A. I will use my rescue inhaler every morning to prevent asthma attacks.
- B. I should use my rescue inhaler when I start to experience wheezing.
- C. I will use my rescue inhaler when my peak flow meter reading is in the green zone.
- D. I will only use my rescue inhaler before going to bed.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'I should use my rescue inhaler when I start to experience wheezing.' A rescue inhaler is used during the onset of asthma symptoms, such as wheezing, to quickly open the airways. It is not intended for routine daily use or prevention, which is the role of a maintenance inhaler. Option A is incorrect because a rescue inhaler is not used for prevention but for immediate relief during an asthma attack. Option C is incorrect because the peak flow meter reading is used to monitor asthma control, not to determine when to use a rescue inhaler. Option D is incorrect because using a rescue inhaler only before going to bed does not address the need for immediate relief when wheezing or experiencing asthma symptoms.