After placing a client at 26-weeks gestation in the lithotomy position, the client complains of dizziness and becomes pale and diaphoretic. What action should the nurse implement?
- A. Instruct the client to take deep breaths.
- B. Place a wedge under the client's hip.
- C. Place the client in the Trendelenburg position.
- D. Remove the client's legs from the stirrups.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Placing a wedge under the client's hip is the correct action in this scenario. This helps relieve the pressure on the vena cava, which can become compressed in the lithotomy position during pregnancy, improving circulation and reducing symptoms like dizziness and pallor. Instructing the client to take deep breaths (Choice A) may not address the underlying cause of the symptoms. Placing the client in the Trendelenburg position (Choice C) would worsen the situation by further compressing the vena cava. Removing the client's legs from the stirrups (Choice D) may provide temporary relief but does not address the root cause of the issue.
You may also like to solve these questions
The nurse is assessing a client who has been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Which clinical finding is characteristic of this condition?
- A. Pursed-lip breathing
- B. Hyperresonance on percussion
- C. Bradycardia
- D. High-pitched inspiratory crackles
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Pursed-lip breathing is a characteristic finding in clients with COPD. It helps keep the airways open during exhalation, acting as a compensatory mechanism to prevent airway collapse, which is common in COPD. Hyperresonance on percussion is typically found in conditions like emphysema, which is a component of COPD but not characteristic of the overall disease. Bradycardia is not typical in COPD; instead, clients often exhibit tachycardia due to chronic hypoxemia. High-pitched inspiratory crackles are more commonly associated with conditions like pneumonia, not COPD.
A client who fell 20 feet from the roof of his home has multiple injuries, including a right pneumothorax. Chest tubes were inserted in the emergency department prior to his transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU). The nurse observes that the suction control chamber is bubbling at the -10 cm H20 mark, with fluctuation in the water seal, and over the past hour, 75 mL of bright red blood is measured in the collection chamber. Which intervention should the nurse implement?
- A. Increase wall suction to eliminate fluctuation in the water seal.
- B. Give blood from the collection chamber as autotransfusion.
- C. Add sterile water to the suction control chamber.
- D. Manipulate blood in tubing to drain into chamber.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct intervention for the nurse to implement is to add sterile water to the suction control chamber. This action helps maintain the proper functioning of the chest tube system by regulating the negative pressure. Increasing wall suction is not recommended as it could lead to excessive negative pressure. Giving blood from the collection chamber as autotransfusion is inappropriate and poses a risk of complications such as air embolism. Manipulating blood in the tubing is also unsafe as it could introduce air into the system, increasing the risk of complications for the client.
A client is receiving morphine for pain management. What is the most important assessment for the nurse to perform?
- A. Check the client's respiratory rate
- B. Assess the client's pain level
- C. Monitor the client's blood pressure
- D. Evaluate the client's level of consciousness
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is to check the client's respiratory rate. Morphine can lead to respiratory depression, which makes it crucial for the nurse to monitor the client's breathing closely. Assessing the respiratory rate helps in early detection of potential respiratory depression and allows prompt intervention. While assessing pain level (choice B) is important, monitoring the respiratory status takes precedence due to the risk of respiratory depression with morphine. Monitoring blood pressure (choice C) is relevant but not as crucial as assessing respiratory status in a client receiving morphine. Evaluating the level of consciousness (choice D) is also important but does not directly address the immediate risk associated with morphine administration.
The nurse is caring for a client with chronic liver disease. Which lab value is most concerning?
- A. Elevated AST and ALT
- B. Decreased albumin level
- C. Elevated bilirubin level
- D. Prolonged PT/INR
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, prolonged PT/INR. In a client with chronic liver disease, a prolonged PT/INR is the most concerning lab value. This indicates impaired liver function, leading to a higher risk of bleeding. Elevated AST and ALT (choice A) are indicators of liver damage but do not directly assess the risk of bleeding. Decreased albumin level (choice B) reflects impaired liver function but is not as directly related to bleeding risk as a prolonged PT/INR. Elevated bilirubin level (choice C) is a sign of liver dysfunction, specifically related to bile metabolism, and while important, it is not as directly associated with bleeding risk as a prolonged PT/INR in the context of chronic liver disease.
The nurse is assessing a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who is experiencing shortness of breath. What is the priority nursing intervention?
- A. Administer bronchodilator therapy as prescribed
- B. Encourage deep breathing and coughing exercises
- C. Position the client in a high-Fowler's position
- D. Increase the oxygen flow rate
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The priority nursing intervention for a client with COPD experiencing shortness of breath is to position the client in a high-Fowler's position. This position helps improve lung expansion and ease breathing in COPD patients. While administering bronchodilator therapy as prescribed (Choice A) is important, it is not the priority in this scenario. Encouraging deep breathing and coughing exercises (Choice B) can be beneficial but do not take precedence over positioning for improved respiratory function. Increasing the oxygen flow rate (Choice D) can be considered after the initial positioning to relieve respiratory distress, making it a later intervention.