Nokea
The nurse is assessing a client with left-sided heart failure. Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention?
- A. Jugular venous distention
- B. Shortness of breath
- C. Crackles in the lungs
- D. Peripheral edema
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In a client with left-sided heart failure, crackles in the lungs are a critical assessment finding that necessitates immediate intervention. Crackles indicate pulmonary congestion, a sign of worsening heart failure that requires prompt attention to prevent respiratory distress. Jugular venous distention, shortness of breath, and peripheral edema are also common in heart failure, but crackles specifically point to pulmonary involvement and the urgent need for intervention.
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The nurse is assessing a 1-year-old child with bronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention?
- A. Wheezing heard on expiration
- B. Oxygen saturation of 90%
- C. Respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute
- D. Nasal flaring with sternal retractions
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Nasal flaring with sternal retractions indicates severe respiratory distress in a 1-year-old with bronchiolitis, requiring immediate intervention. Nasal flaring and sternal retractions are signs of increased work of breathing and decreased air movement, indicating the child is struggling to breathe. Wheezing on expiration (Choice A) is common in bronchiolitis but may not require immediate intervention. An oxygen saturation of 90% (Choice B) is low but may not be the most critical finding in this case. A respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute (Choice C) is elevated but alone may not indicate the need for immediate intervention as much as nasal flaring and sternal retractions.
A client with a history of myocardial infarction is admitted with chest pain. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor closely?
- A. White blood cell count
- B. Serum creatinine
- C. Troponin level
- D. Hemoglobin level
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Troponin level. Troponin levels should be closely monitored in a client with chest pain and a history of myocardial infarction to assess for ongoing myocardial injury. Troponin is a specific marker for myocardial damage. Monitoring white blood cell count (choice A) is not directly related to myocardial infarction. Serum creatinine (choice B) is more indicative of renal function rather than cardiac status. Hemoglobin level (choice D) is important but does not directly reflect ongoing myocardial injury.
The nurse is planning care for a client admitted with a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. Which intervention has the highest priority for inclusion in this client's plan of care?
- A. Record urine output every hour
- B. Monitor blood pressure frequently
- C. Evaluate neurological status
- D. Maintain seizure precautions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Monitoring blood pressure frequently is the highest priority intervention for a client diagnosed with pheochromocytoma. This rare tumor can lead to life-threatening hypertension due to catecholamine secretion. Evaluating neurological status and maintaining seizure precautions are important but are not the highest priority in this case. Recording urine output, though essential for overall assessment, is not the priority compared to monitoring blood pressure in a client with pheochromocytoma.
An unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) assigned to obtain client vital signs reports to the charge nurse that a client has a weak pulse with a rate of 44 beats/minute. What action should the charge nurse implement?
- A. Instruct the UAP to count the client's apical pulse rate for sixty seconds.
- B. Determine if the UAP also measured the client's capillary refill time.
- C. Assign a practical nurse (LPN) to determine if an apical-radial pulse deficit is present.
- D. Notify the healthcare provider of the abnormal pulse rate and pulse volume.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct action for the charge nurse to implement in this situation is to assign a practical nurse (LPN) to determine if an apical-radial pulse deficit is present. This helps to confirm the accuracy of the reported weak pulse. In this scenario, it is crucial to involve a licensed nurse to further assess the situation and provide a more comprehensive evaluation. Inaccurate pulse readings can lead to inappropriate interventions or unnecessary alarm. Instructing the UAP to count the apical pulse may not address the accuracy issue. Checking capillary refill time is not directly related to confirming the weak pulse rate. Notifying the healthcare provider immediately may be premature without confirming the accuracy of the pulse reading first.
A 46-year-old male client who had a myocardial infarction 24 hours ago comes to the nurse's station fully dressed and wanting to go home. He tells the nurse that he is feeling much better at this time. Based on this behavior, which nursing problem should the nurse formulate?
- A. Ineffective coping related to denial.
- B. Risk for impaired cardiac function.
- C. Noncompliance related to lack of knowledge.
- D. Anxiety related to hospitalization.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Ineffective coping related to denial. The client's desire to leave the hospital shortly after a myocardial infarction despite the severity of the condition indicates denial and ineffective coping. This behavior could lead to complications as the client may not adequately address his health needs. Choice B, Risk for impaired cardiac function, is not the most appropriate nursing problem in this scenario as the client's behavior is more indicative of psychological coping issues rather than a direct physiological risk at this moment. Choice C, Noncompliance related to lack of knowledge, does not align with the client's behavior of wanting to leave the hospital. Choice D, Anxiety related to hospitalization, may not be the best option as the client's behavior is more suggestive of denial rather than anxiety about being hospitalized.