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.
The nurse has reviewed the information from the Diagnostic Results and Nurses' Notes. For each finding, click to specify whether the finding indicates that the client's status has not changed or has declined
- A. BP 102/70
- B. T 100.4 F (38 C)
- C. Peripheral pulses 1+
- D. Shortness of breath when recumbent
- E. Scattered crackles on lung auscultation
Correct Answer:
Rationale: Infective endocarditis (E) requires long-term antibiotic therapy (ie, 4-6 weeks). Fever (eg, T 100.4 F [38 C]) can persist for
several days despite appropriate antibiotic therapy.
In addition to the risk for systemic embolism (eg, stroke), clients with IE are at risk for heart failure if the involved valve
becomes dysfunctional. Decreased capillary oxygen saturation, shortness of breath when recumbent, and scattered
crackles on lung auscultation indicate fluid backup in the lungs. In addition, borderline low blood pressure (compared to
uncontrolled high blood pressure at admission) and decreased peripheral pulses (1+ vs 2+ on admission) indicate decreased
cardiac output and are concerning for heart failure.
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The nurse is performing a home health visit for an 84-year-old male.
History and Physical
Body System, Findings
General,
Client reports a 1-month-long history of fatigue and dyspnea that has worsened; he is unable to lie
flat and sleeps in a chair at night, medical history includes myocardial infarction, chronic heart
failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus; client
was diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia 8 months ago; client is adherent with prescribed
medications; client reports frequent consumption of donuts, hamburgers, steak, and fried chicken;
BMI is 34 kg/m?; client reports 6-Ib (2.7-kg) weight gain in 1 week
Neurological,
Alert and oriented to person, place, time, and situation
Pulmonary,
Vital signs: RR 24, SpOz 88% on room air; labored breathing, crackles in bilateral lung bases; client
expectorates frothy, pink-tinged sputum; client has a 40-year history of smoking 1 pack of cigarettes
per day
Cardiovascular,
Vital signs: T 98.8 F (37.1 C), P 98, BP 113/92; S1, S2, and S3 present; 3+ bilateral lower extremity
edema
Genitourinary, Concentrated yellow urine; client reports increased urinary hesitancy and urgency
Psychosocial,
Client reports being lonely and has depressed mental status
Prescriptions
Home Medication Record
Medication, Scheduled
Pravastatin 20 mg PO once daily, 2100
Furosemide 40 mg PO once daily, 0900
Tamsulosin 0.4 mg PO once daily, 0900
Potassium chloride 20 mg PO once daily, 0900
Metformin 1000 mg PO bid, 0900, 2100
Carvedilol 6.25 mg PO bid;hold for systolic blood pressure ≤100 mm Hg and/or HR <65/min, 0900, 2100
Sacubitril 97 mg/valsartan 103 mg PO bid, 0900, 2100
The nurse has reviewed the information from the Prescriptions. The nurse is reinforcing education on heart failure management. Which of the following client statements indicate a correct understanding of the teaching? Select all that apply.
- A. I am going to join a cardiac rehabilitation program
- B. I should take my furosemide at bedtime."
- C. I will check my blood pressure before each dose of carvedilol.
- D. I will notify my health care provider if I develop muscle cramps.
- E. I will weigh myself once a week.
Correct Answer: A,C,D
Rationale: Pharmacological management of heart failure (HF) focuses on reducing cardiac workload and improving cardiac output. Beta
blockers (eg, carvedilol) reduce cardiac workload by inhibiting the action of catecholamines (eg, epinephrine, norepinephrine)
on beta-adrenergic receptors in the heart. Beta blockers decrease myocardial oxygen demand by decreasing blood
pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). Therefore, clients prescribed antihypertensive medications (eg, carvedilol) should be
instructed to check BP and HR before each dose to monitor for hypotension and bradycardia
Loop diuretics (eg, furosemide, bumetanide) are potassium-wasting, which increases the client's risk of hypokalemia
Angiotensin system inhibitors (eg, sacubitril-valsartan) and potassium supplements cause hyperkalemia. Clients should be
taught symptoms of hypo- or hyperkalemia (eg, muscle cramps) and instructed to notify the health care provider if they occur
(Option 4).
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.
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
Drag words from the choices below to fill in the blank/blanks.The nurse understands that the client is most at risk for------------and------------
- A. Sepsis
- B. Delirium tremens
- C. Respiratory failure
- D. Deep venous thrombosis
- E. Decreased cardiac output
Correct Answer: E,C
Rationale: The nurse understands that the client is most at risk for respiratory failure and decreased cardiac output.
Decreased cardiac output is the most concerning complication in a client with a tension pneumothorax. The trapped air in a tension
pneumothorax causes increased pressure, compressing the affected lung more until it is completely collapsed and then compressing the
heart and great vessels (vena cava, aorta), ultimately inhibiting venous return.
If the pleural pressure continues to increase, eventually the pleural cavity will crowd the trachea, forcing it to deviate (shift) to the unaffected
side where the unaffected lung can be compressed. Clients are at high risk for respiratory failure due to hypoxemia. Without treatment, the
lungs cannot meet the demands for oxygenation and the client will die.
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.
Select 5 findings that require immediate follow-up.
- A. left-sided headache
- B. Bilateral lens opacity
- C. 7.9-Ib (3.6-kg) weight loss within the past month.
- D. blurred vision and redness in the left eye
- E. severe pain in the left eye
- F. red conjunctiva.
- G. Left eye: pupil 4 mm and nonreactive to light
Correct Answer: A,D,E,F,G
Rationale: This client is experiencing signs of acute angle-closure glaucoma (ACG), a medical emergency characterized by a sudden elevation in
intraocular pressure (IOP). The onset of symptoms is typically sudden; however, acute ACG requires rapid intervention to prevent permane
vision loss. Manifestations of acute ACG include:
• Blurry vision
• Unilateral headache
• Sudden, severe eye pain
• Conjunctival redness
• Middilated pupils (4-6 mm) nonreactive to light
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.
Select below the 4 findings that are most concerning at this time.
- A. controlled hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and mitral valve prolapse and regurgitation.
- B. T 100.4 F (38 C),
- C. Thin, brown longitudinal lines on
several nail beds. - D. 2 teeth extracted 3 weeks ago;
- E. general malaise, fever and chills, night sweats, fatigue,
and poor appetite. - F. erythematous macular lesions on both palms
Correct Answer: B,C,D,F
Rationale: This client has multiple findings concerning for infective endocarditis (IE), which occurs when an infectious organism enters the
innermost layer of the heart (ie, endocardium) and forms a vegetation on a heart valve. Findings concerning for IE include:
• Recent tooth extraction: Dental procedures (eg, tooth extraction) increase the risk for infectious organisms entering the
bloodstream, potentially leading to IE. Other risk factors include a history of IV drug use, presence of a distant infection
(eg, leg cellulitis), or presence of a prosthetic heart valve
• Fever: Elevated temperature is a sign of infection, which is a common finding in clients with IE.
• Nontender, erythematous, macular lesions on the palms or soles (Janeway lesions): Janeway lesions are
characteristic of IE. They occur when turbulent blood flow through the heart valves causes pieces of endocardial
vegetation to break off, forming microemboli that travel through the arteries to end-capillaries and block blood flow.
• Nonblanching, thin, red/dark longitudinal lines under the nail beds (splinter hemorrhages): Like Janeway lesions,
splinter hemorrhages are caused by microemboli that break off from vegetative lesions in the heart and travel through the
arteries to end-capillaries and block blood flow.
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