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.
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The nurse is caring for a client who is receiving cyclosporine. Which condition indicates to the nurse that the client is experiencing an adverse effect of the medication?
- A. Acne
- B. Sweating
- C. Joint pain
- D. Hyperkalemia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant medication used in the prophylaxis of organ rejection. Adverse effects include nephrotoxicity, infection, hepatotoxicity, hypomagnesemia, coma, hypertension, tremor, and hirsutism. Additionally, neurotoxicity, gastrointestinal effects, hyperkalemia, and hyperglycemia can occur. Options 1, 2, and 3 are not associated with this medication.
A client is admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The nurse notes that in the first hour after admission, the mediastinal chest tube drainage was 75 mL. During the second hour, the drainage has dropped to 5 mL. The nurse interprets this data and implements which intervention?
- A. Identifies that the tube is draining normally
- B. Assesses the tube to locate a possible occlusion
- C. Auscultates the lungs for appropriate bilateral expansion
- D. Assists the client with frequent coughing and deep breathing
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: After CABG surgery, chest tube drainage should not exceed 100 to 150 mL per hour during the first 2 hours postoperatively, and approximately 500 mL of drainage is expected in the first 24 hours after CABG surgery. The sudden drop in drainage between the first and second hour indicates that the tube is possibly occluded and requires further assessment by the nurse. Options 1, 3, and 4 are incorrect interventions.
A child is admitted to the pediatric unit with a diagnosis of celiac disease. Based on this diagnosis, the nurse expects that the child's stools will have which characteristic?
- A. Malodorous
- B. Dark in color
- C. Unusually hard
- D. Abnormally small in amount
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Celiac disease is a disorder characterized by intolerance to gluten, leading to malabsorption and gastrointestinal symptoms. The stools of a child with celiac disease are typically malodorous, bulky, frothy, and pale due to steatorrhea (excess fat in the stool) caused by impaired nutrient absorption. Dark-colored stools, hard stools, or small amounts are not characteristic of celiac disease.
A client who has sustained a burn injury receives a prescription for a regular diet. Which is the best meal for the nurse to provide to the client to promote wound healing?
- A. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, apple, tea
- B. Chicken breast, broccoli, strawberries, milk
- C. Veal chop, boiled potatoes, Jell-O, orange juice
- D. Pasta with tomato sauce, garlic bread, ginger ale
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The meal with the best potential to promote wound healing includes nutrient-rich food choices, including protein, such as chicken and milk, and vitamin C, such as broccoli and strawberries. The remaining options include one or more items with a low nutritional value, especially the tea, jelly, Jell-O, and ginger ale.
A client diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome has a prescription to be placed on a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) face mask. What intervention should the nurse implement for this procedure to be beneficial?
- A. Obtain baseline arterial blood gases.
- B. Obtain baseline pulse oximetry levels.
- C. Apply the mask to the face with a snug fit.
- D. Remove the mask for deep breathing exercises.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The CPAP face mask must be applied over the nose and mouth with a snug fit, which is necessary to maintain positive pressure in the client's airways. The nurse obtains baseline respiratory assessments and arterial blood gases to evaluate the effectiveness of therapy, but these are not done to increase the effectiveness of the procedure. A disadvantage of the CPAP face mask is that the client must remove it for coughing, eating, or drinking. This removes the benefit of positive pressure in the airway each time it is removed.
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