History and Physical
Body System
Findings
General
Client reports a 1-week history of general malaise, fever and chills, night sweats, fatigue, and
poor appetite. Client has poorly controlled hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and mitral
valve prolapse and regurgitation.
Eye, Ear, Nose, and
Throat (EENT)
Poor dental hygiene. Client reports having 2 teeth extracted 3 weeks ago.
Pulmonary
Vital signs are RR 18 and SpO, 96% on room air. Lungs are clear to auscultation bilaterally.
Cardiovascular
Vital signs are T 100.4 F (38 C), P 105, and BP 140/82. Sinus tachycardia with occasional
premature ventricular contractions on cardiac monitor. S1 and S2 heard on auscultation with
loud systolic murmur at the apex. Peripheral pulses 2+; no edema noted.
Integumentary
Small, erythematous macular lesions on both palms. Thin, brown longitudinal lines on several
nail beds.
For each potential prescription, click to specify whether the prescription is expected or not expected for the care of the client.
- A. Administer IV antibiotics
- B. Prepare client for echocardiography
- C. Initiate low-flow supplemental oxygen
- D. Gather supplies for pericardiocentesis
- E. Place peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)
- F. Collect a blood specimen for culture and sensitivity
Correct Answer:
Rationale: Expected prescriptions for clients with suspected infective endocarditis (IE) include:
• Administering IV antibiotics to kill the infectious pathogen
• Preparing the client for echocardiography to identify valvular dysfunction, chamber enlargement, and vegetations
• Placing a peripherally inserted central catheter for long-term IV antibiotic therapy
• Collecting a blood specimen for culture and sensitivity to identify the infectious pathogen
Initiating low-flow supplemental oxygen is not expected because the client is not exhibiting signs of respiratory distress.
Pericardiocentesis is performed to remove excess fluid from the pericardial cavity and prevent progression to cardiac
tamponade. Pericardial effusions are not commonly expected with IE. Furthermore, this client is not exhibiting signs of
pericardial effusion (eg, muffled heart sounds, substernal pain). Therefore, gathering supplies for pericardiocentesis is not
expected.
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The nurse is caring for a 24-year-old client.
Nurses' Notes
Emergency Department
1300:
The client is brought to the emergency department after a motor vehicle collision in which the driver's side airbag deployed.
The client was driving the vehicle and was not restrained by a seat belt. The client reports shortness of breath and chest
pain on inspiration and expiration.
History and Physical
Body System ,Findings
Neurological,
Awake, alert, and oriented to person; pupils equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation; client is
agitated and moves all extremities spontaneously but does not follow commands
Integumentary, Superficial lacerations to the face; diffuse bruising noted on upper extremities and chest wall
Pulmonary,
Vital signs: RR 30, SpOz 92% via nonrebreather mask; unilateral chest wall expansion observed on inspiration;
left-sided tracheal deviation noted; breath sounds diminished throughout the right lung field
Cardiovascular,
Vital signs: P 104, BP 90/58; S1 and S2 heard on auscultation; all pulses palpable; no extremity peripheral edema
noted
Psychosocial ,Alcohol odor noted on the client's breath
Select 5 findings that require immediate follow-up.
- A. SpO, 92% via nonrebreather mask
- B. unilateral chest wall expansion observed on
inspiration - C. left-sided tracheal deviation noted;
- D. breath sounds diminished throughout the right lung
field - E. Superficial lacerations to the face
- F. BP 90/58; S1 and S2 heard on auscultation; all pulses palpabl
Correct Answer: A,B,C,D,F
Rationale: The nurse should immediately follow up on the following findings:
• Hypoxemia (eg, SpO, 92% on 100% oxygen [nonrebreather mask]) indicates an abnormality with ventilation and/or perfusion.
• Unilateral chest wall expansion on inspiration indicates one side of the lung is not inflating. This is usually due to lung collapse,
which could be due to an internal airway dysfunction (eg, mucous plug blocking air entry) or external compression (eg, pneumothorax).
• Tracheal deviation (ie, displacement of the trachea to one side) occurs when pressure from one side of the chest is higher than the
other, pushing the mediastinal structures to the side with less pressure. This is usually due to a large hemothorax or pneumothorax.
• Diminished breath sounds indicate the lung is not adequately expanding (eg, atelectasis, pneumothorax).
• Hypotension (eg, BP 90/58 mm Hg) occurs from several mechanisms, including compression of the heart (eg, cardiac tamponade)
and/or great vessels (eg, tension pneumothorax), inadequate ventricular filling between heartbeats (eg, supraventricular tachycardia),
volume depletion, and other conditions
History
Labor and Delivery Unit
Admission: The client, gravida 1 para 0, at 16 weeks gestation with a twin pregnancy reports nausea and vomiting for the past
several weeks. The client also reports dry heaving, increasing weakness, light-headedness, and an inability to tolerate
oral intake for the past 24 hours. In addition, the client has had occasional right-sided, shooting pain from the abdomen
to the groin that occurs with sudden position changes. The pain quickly resolves without intervention per the client's
report. She has had no contractions or vaginal bleeding and has felt no fetal movement during this pregnancy. The
client has a history of childhood asthma and is currently taking no asthma medications. The client reports no other
pregnancy complications.
Physical
Prepregnancy,12 Weeks Gestation 16 Weeks Gestation(Prenatal Visit),(Labor and Delivery Admission)
Height ,5 ft 5 in (165.1 cm),5 ft 5 in (165.1 cm)|, 5 ft 5 in (165.1 cm)
Weight, 145 lb (65.8 kg),148 lb (67.1 kg),138 lb (62.6 kg)
BMI, 24.1 kg/m2, 24.6 kg/m2,23.0 kg/m2
Vital Signs
12 Weeks Gestation(Prenatal Visit),16 Weeks Gestation(Labor and Delivery Admission)
T,98.7 F (37.1 C),99.8 F (37.7 C)
P,70,101
RR,14,18
BP,122/78,90/55
SpO2,99% on room air,96% on room air
Which of the following information about the client is important to report to the health care provider? Select all that apply.
- A. Blood pressure
- B. Fetal movement
- C. Nausea and vomiting
- D. Right-sided abdominal pain
- E. Weight change
Correct Answer: A,C,E
Rationale: The nurse caring for pregnant clients must distinguish pregnancy-related adaptations and discomforts from potential complications. It is
important to report the following client findings to the health care provider:
• Abnormal vital signs (eg, low blood pressure): Hypotension and tachycardia may be symptoms of hypovolemia due to decreased oral
intake and vomiting (ie, dehydration)
• Severe nausea and vomiting: Although these findings are common discomforts associated with early pregnancy, concern is warranted
if they are persistent; prevent oral intake; and cause significant weight loss, dehydration, and hypovolemia
• Significant weight change (eg, weight loss of 25% of prepregnancy weight): Weight loss is generally not recommended during
pregnancy and may indicate a medical condition (eg, nutritional deficiency). Normal changes in weight during pregnancy include gaining
1-4 Ib (0.5-1.8 kg) during the first trimester and approximately 1 lb (0.5 kg) per week thereafter
The nurse is caring for a 68-year-old client in the emergency department.
Nurses' Notes,
Emergency Department
1020:
The client reports shortness of breath, a 2-lb weight gain over the past week, and lower extremity swelling. The client
reports slight chest discomfort during activity that is relieved with rest. Medical history is significant for hypertension.
myocardial infarction, heart failure, coronary artery disease, and chronic stable angina. Current medications include
metoprolol, furosemide, potassium chloride, lisinopril, and aspirin. The client takes all medications as prescribed except
one; he states, "I do not take that water pill because I got tired of having to go to the bathroom all the time."
S1 and S2 are present; a prominent S3 is heard. Respirations are labored with inspiratory crackles in the middle and at the
base of the lungs. The abdomen is soft and nontender with normoactive bowel sounds. There is 3+ pitting edema in the
bilateral lower extremities.
Vital Signs,
1020
T ,98.8 F (37.1 C)
P, 60
RR, 24
BP, 168/96
SpO2, 90% on room air
Which of the following prescriptions are indicated for this client? Select all that apply.
- A. 12-lead ECG
- B. Chest x-ray
- C. Current weight
- D. Orthostatic vital signs
- E. Serum electrolyte levels
Correct Answer: A,B,C,E
Rationale: This client's medical history includes hypertension, myocardial infarction, heart failure (HF), coronary artery disease, and chronic stable
angina, which place the client at high risk for several complications. When assisting in planning care for a client with a history of HF who is
experiencing dyspnea and chest discomfort, the nurse should anticipate the following prescriptions:
• A 12-lead ECG to assist in identifying acute dyshythmias and acute coronary syndromes (eg, myocardial infarction, unstable angina)
(Option 1)
• Chest x-ray to visualize pulmonary congestion, cardiomegaly, and the presence of other potential causes for the client's dyspnea (eg,
pneumonia, pleural effusion). Common causes of pleural effusions include HF (Option 2).
• The client's current weight to establish a baseline indicator of fluid volume status (Option 3)
• Serum electrolyte levels to identify fluid and electrolyte imbalances that may impair myocardial contractility (Option 5)
The nurse is caring for a 64-year-old client.
History and Physical
Body System, Findings
General ,
The client reports a 24-hour history of blurred vision and redness in the left eye with a left-sided headache.
This evening, the client developed acute, severe pain in the left eye accompanied by occasional nausea and
vomiting. The client reports no use of systemic or topical eye medications. Medical history includes
osteoarthritis and hypercholesterolemia.
Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat (EENT),
The client wears eyeglasses to correct farsighted vision. Right eye: pupil 2 mm and reactive to light,
conjunctiva clear. Left eye: pupil 4 mm and nonreactive to light with red conjunctiva. Bilateral lens opacity is noted.
Pulmonary,
Vital signs are RR 20 and SpO, 96% on room air. The lungs are clear to auscultation bilaterally.
Cardiovascular,
Vital signs are T 99 F (37.2 C), P 88, and BP 140/82.
Psychosocial,
The client reports a great deal of emotional stress following the recent death of the client's spouse that is accompanied by lack of sleep, poor appetite, and a 7.9-lb (3.6-kg) weight loss within the past month. The client takes diphenhydramine for sleep.
Complete the following sentence by choosing from the lists of options. The nurse suspects that the client's current symptoms are due to -------------------------
and that the client is at increased risk for permanent vision loss due to--------------------------
- A. Cataracts
- B. Infection
- C. Retinal detachment
- D. Corneal ulcer
- E. Angle-closure glaucoma
- F. Optic nerve ischemia
Correct Answer: E,F
Rationale: Acute angle-closure glaucoma results from a significant increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) (>50 mm Hg) due to impaired aqueous
humor drainage. In susceptible individuals (eg, those with a narrow anterior chamber angle), dilation of the pupil causes the iris to press
against the lens, preventing flow of aqueous humor through the pupil. This causes the iris to bulge forward, closing the anterior chamber
angle and blocking drainage of aqueous humor through the trabecular meshwork. The rise in IOP leads to immediate optic nerve ischem
potentially resulting in permanent vision loss.
History and Physical
Body System,Findings
General
Client has history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diverticulosis, and
osteoarthritis; Helicobacter pylori infection 2 years ago; client reports taking over-the-counter
ibuprofen every 8 hours for left knee pain for the past 2 weeks; daily medications include aspirin,
carvedilol, lisinopril, and atorvastatin
Neurological
Alert and oriented to person, place, time, and situation
Pulmonary
Vital signs: RR 20, SpO 96% on room air, lung sounds clear bilaterally; no shortness of breath;
client smokes 1 pack of cigarettes per day and smokes marijuana 1 or 2 times weekly
Cardiovascular
Vital signs: P 110, BP 90/62; no chest pain; S1 and S2 heard on auscultation; peripheral pulses
2+; client states feeling lightheaded and reports passing out about 1 hour ago
Gastrointestinal
Abdominal pain rated as 4 on a scale of 0-10; one episode of hematemesis; two episodes of
large, black, liquid stools in the morning
Musculoskeletal
Examination of the knees shows crepitus that is worse on the left; no swelling, warmth, or
erythema; range of motion is normal
Psychosocial
Client reports drinking 1 or 2 glasses of wine per day
The nurse has reviewed the information from the Laboratory Results. The health care provider suspects the client is experiencing upper gastrointestinal bleeding. For each potential prescription, click to specify whether the prescription is anticipated or unanticipated for the care of the client.
- A. Place the client on NPO status
- B. Administer isotonic IV fluid bolus
- C. Administer proton pump inhibitor IV
- D. Collect blood samples for type and crossmatch
- E. Administer heparin for deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis
Correct Answer:
Rationale: Anticipated prescriptions for a client with upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding include:
• Placing the client on NPO status to reduce the risk of continued bleeding and vomiting. NPO status is important to
initiate prior to esophagogastroduodenoscopy to reduce aspiration risk.
• Administering an isotonic IV fluid bolus to restore circulating fluid volume and maintain perfusion of vital organs.
• Administering a proton pump inhibitor IV (eg, pantoprazole) to reduce gastric acid secretion and prevent further
irritation and breakdown of suspected peptic ulcers.
• Collecting blood samples for type and crossmatch to ensure blood type compatibility before initiating a blood
transfusion. This client's hemoglobin and hematocrit levels are low, and the client continues to have active bleeding.
Therefore, a blood transfusion should be anticipated to increase blood volume and improve oxygenation and perfusion.
Administering heparin for deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis is not anticipated. Anticoagulation will prolong bleeding
and increase risk for hemorrhagic shock. Anticoagulation is contraindicated for clients with active GI bleeding.
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