An older adult patient is receiving a transfusion of packed red blood cells after being injured in a car accident. On assessment, the nurse notes a new finding of bounding pulse, crackles, and increasing dyspnea. What should the nurse do first, after stopping the transfusion?
- A. Assess vital signs.
- B. Raise the head of the bed.
- C. Encourage the patient to deep breathe and cough.
- D. Administer pm diphenhydramine (Benadryl) as ordered.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Raise the head of the bed. After stopping the transfusion due to signs of fluid overload, the priority is to alleviate symptoms and improve respiratory function. Elevating the head of the bed helps reduce venous return, decreasing preload and cardiac workload, which can help manage symptoms like dyspnea and crackles. This action promotes better oxygenation and reduces the risk of complications like pulmonary edema. Assessing vital signs (Choice A) is important but not the immediate priority. Encouraging deep breathing and coughing (Choice C) may exacerbate respiratory distress in this situation. Administering diphenhydramine (Choice D) is not indicated for fluid overload.
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Non thrombocytopenic purpura is seen in all except:
- A. vasculitis
- B. uraemia
- C. hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia
- D. SLE
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: SLE. Non-thrombocytopenic purpura refers to purpura without low platelet count. In SLE, thrombocytopenia is common, leading to purpura. A: Vasculitis can cause non-thrombocytopenic purpura due to vessel inflammation. B: Uraemia can lead to non-thrombocytopenic purpura due to vascular damage. C: Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia presents with telangiectasias and recurrent epistaxis, not purpura.
A nurse is caring for a client who is about to begin alteplase therapy to treat pulmonary embolism. Which of the following drugs should the nurse have available in the event of a severe adverse reaction?
- A. Vitamin K
- B. Aminocaproic acid
- C. Protamine
- D. Deferoxamine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Aminocaproic acid. This drug is a fibrinolytic inhibitor that can be used to manage bleeding complications associated with alteplase therapy. It helps to prevent excessive bleeding by inhibiting the breakdown of blood clots. Having aminocaproic acid available is crucial in case the client experiences severe bleeding as a result of alteplase therapy.
A: Vitamin K is used to reverse the effects of warfarin, a blood thinner, and is not indicated for managing bleeding due to alteplase therapy.
C: Protamine is used to reverse the effects of heparin, not alteplase, and is not indicated for managing bleeding due to alteplase therapy.
D: Deferoxamine is an antidote for iron poisoning and is not indicated for managing bleeding due to alteplase therapy.
In summary, aminocaproic acid is the correct choice as it helps manage bleeding complications associated with alteplase therapy
A 12-year-old girl presents to your clinic with significant menstrual bleeding at the onset of menarche and is noted to have a hemoglobin of 9.9, although she is not symptomatic from her anemia. Her mother reports that she has a history of epistaxis when she was a child with some episodes lasting 30 minutes and that she also has heavy menstrual bleeding. Which of the following tests will lead to the most likely diagnosis?
- A. Factor XI level
- B. Factor X level
- C. Factor XIII level
- D. Ristoectin cofactor activity
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Ristoectin cofactor activity. The scenario describes a young girl with significant menstrual bleeding and a history of prolonged epistaxis, suggesting a bleeding disorder. Given the clinical presentation, the most likely diagnosis is von Willebrand disease (vWD), the most common inherited bleeding disorder. Ristocetin cofactor activity is a specific test for vWD, as it assesses the ability of von Willebrand factor to bind to platelets in the presence of ristocetin. Factors XI, X, and XIII are not typically associated with vWD, making choices A, B, and C incorrect. Testing for Factor VIII/von Willebrand factor antigen levels and vWF multimer analysis may also be considered to confirm the diagnosis.
A pediatric fellow is planning a project intended to decrease the incidence of acute chest syndrome among patients with sickle cell disease who are already admitted to the hospital for other reasons. The fellow discussed with her mentor whether the project proposal should be submitted for review by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The mentor explains that, at their intuition, quality improvement activities do not require IRB review but research projects must be submitted to the IRB. Which of the following is NOT a relevant consideration in determining whether the project is research or quality improvement?
- A. The aim to create new knowledge for the individual institution versus discovering new and generalizable knowledge
- B. The chosen methodology which will include repeated Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles
- C. The intent to publish the results in a peer reviewed hematology journal
- D. The efforts to hold biases/confounders stable over time, rather than control for them with, for example, randomization
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because the intent to publish results in a peer-reviewed journal is not a determining factor in distinguishing between quality improvement and research activities. Here's a step-by-step rationale:
1. Quality improvement focuses on improving processes within an institution to enhance patient care, while research aims to generate new knowledge that is generalizable beyond the institution.
2. The chosen methodology (B) such as using Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles is often associated with quality improvement projects to test and implement changes iteratively.
3. Efforts to hold biases stable over time (D) are more aligned with research, as quality improvement projects may not necessarily require controlling for biases like randomization.
4. The intent to publish in a peer-reviewed journal (C) can apply to both quality improvement and research projects, but the key factor in determining the need for IRB review is whether the project aims to generate generalizable knowledge (research) or improve local processes (quality improvement).
A patient with pancytopenia has a bone marrow aspiration from the left posterior iliac crest. Which action would be important for the nurse to take after the procedure?
- A. Elevate the head of the bed to 45 degrees.
- B. Apply a sterile 2-inch gauze dressing to the site.
- C. Use a half-inch sterile gauze to pack the wound.
- D. Have the patient lie on the left side for 1 hour.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Have the patient lie on the left side for 1 hour. This position helps prevent bleeding by applying pressure to the site. Elevating the head of the bed (A) is not necessary for this procedure. Applying a 2-inch gauze dressing (B) may disrupt the site and increase the risk of bleeding. Using half-inch sterile gauze to pack the wound (C) is not recommended for bone marrow aspiration sites as it can lead to infection.