Nokea
An anxious client enters the emergency department seeking treatment for a laceration of the finger. The client's vital signs are pulse 106 beats per minute, blood pressure (BP) 158/88 mm Hg, and respirations 28 breaths per minute. After cleansing the injury and reassuring the client, the nurse rechecks the vital signs and notes a pulse of 82 beats per minute, BP 130/80 mm Hg, and respirations 20 breaths per minute. Which factor likely accounts for the change in vital signs?
- A. Cooling effects of the cleansing agent
- B. Client's adaptation to the air conditioning
- C. Early clinical indicators of cardiogenic shock
- D. Decline in sympathetic nervous system discharge
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Physical or emotional stress triggers sympathetic nervous system stimulation. Increased epinephrine and norepinephrine cause tachycardia, high blood pressure, and tachypnea. Stress reduction then returns these parameters to baseline as the sympathetic discharge falls.
You may also like to solve these questions
The nurse monitors the client taking amitriptyline for which common side effect?
- A. Diarrhea
- B. Drowsiness
- C. Hypertension
- D. Increased salivation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Common side effects of amitriptyline (a tricyclic antidepressant) include the central nervous system effects of drowsiness, fatigue, lethargy, and sedation. Other common side effects include dry mouth or eyes, blurred vision, hypotension, and constipation. The nurse monitors the client for these side effects.
The nurse is performing a respiratory assessment on a client being treated for an asthma attack. The nurse determines that the client's respiratory status is worsening based upon which finding?
- A. Loud wheezing
- B. Wheezing on expiration
- C. Noticeably diminished breath sounds
- D. Increased displays of emotional apprehension
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Noticeably diminished breath sounds are an indication of severe obstruction and impending respiratory failure. Wheezing is not a reliable manifestation to determine the severity of an asthma attack. Clients with minor attacks may experience loud wheezes, whereas others with severe attacks may not wheeze. The client with severe asthma attacks may have no audible wheezing because of the decrease of airflow. For wheezing to occur, the client must be able to move sufficient air to produce breath sounds. Emotional apprehension is likely whatever the degree of respiratory distress being experienced.
The nurse teaching an older client about general hygienic measures for foot and nail care should include which instructions? Select all that apply.
- A. Wear knee-high hose to prevent edema.
- B. Soak and wash the feet daily using cool water.
- C. Use commercial removers for corns or calluses.
- D. Use over-the-counter preparations to treat ingrown nails.
- E. Apply lanolin or baby oil if dryness is noted along the feet.
- F. Pat the feet dry thoroughly after washing and dry well between toes.
Correct Answer: E,F
Rationale: The nurse should offer the following guidelines in a general hygienic foot and nail care program: Inspect the feet daily, including the tops and soles of the feet, the heels, and the areas between the toes; wash the feet daily using lukewarm water, and avoid soaks to the feet, thoroughly patting the feet dry and drying well between toes; and avoid cutting corns or calluses or using commercial removers. Additional general hygienic measures include gently rubbing lanolin, baby oil, or corn oil into the skin if dryness is noted along the feet or between the toes; filing the toe nails straight across and square (do not use scissors or clippers); avoiding the use of over-the-counter preparations to treat ingrown toenails and consulting a primary health care provider for these problems; and avoiding wearing elastic stockings (unless prescribed by a health care professional), knee-high hose, or constricting garters.
The nurse inserts an indwelling Foley catheter into the bladder of a postoperative client who has not voided for 8 hours and has a distended bladder. After the tubing is secured and the collection bag is hung on the bed frame, the nurse notices that 900 mL of urine has drained into the collection bag. What is the appropriate nursing action for the safety of this client?
- A. Check the specific gravity of the urine.
- B. Clamp the tubing for 30 minutes and then release.
- C. Provide suprapubic pressure to maintain a steady flow of urine.
- D. Raise the collection bag high enough to slow the rate of drainage.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rapid emptying of a large volume of urine may cause engorgement of pelvic blood vessels and hypovolemic shock, prolapse of the bladder, or bladder spasms. Clamping the tubing for 30 minutes allows for equilibration to prevent complications. Option 1 is an assessment and would not affect the flow of urine or prevent possible hypovolemic shock. Option 3 would increase the flow of urine, which could lead to hypovolemic shock. Option 4 could cause backflow of urine. Infection is likely to develop if urine is allowed to flow back into the bladder.
The nurse is caring for a client prescribed digoxin. Which manifestations correlate with a digoxin level of 2.3 ng/dL (2.93 nmol/L)? Select all that apply.
- A. Nausea
- B. Drowsiness
- C. Photophobia
- D. Increased appetite
- E. Increased energy level
- F. Seeing halos around bright objects
Correct Answer: A,B,C,F
Rationale: Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside used to manage and treat heart failure, control ventricular rate in clients with atrial fibrillation, and treat and prevent recurrent paroxysmal atrial tachycardia. The therapeutic range is 0.8 to 2.0 ng/mL (1.02 to 2.56 nmol/L). Signs of toxicity include gastrointestinal disturbances, including anorexia, nausea, and vomiting; neurological abnormalities such as fatigue, headache, depression, weakness, drowsiness, confusion, and nightmares; facial pain; personality changes; and ocular disturbances such as photophobia, halos around bright lights, and yellow or green color perception.