The nurse is performing a respiratory assessment on a client being treated for an asthma attack. The nurse determines that the client's respiratory status is worsening based upon which finding?
- A. Loud wheezing
- B. Wheezing on expiration
- C. Noticeably diminished breath sounds
- D. Increased displays of emotional apprehension
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Noticeably diminished breath sounds are an indication of severe obstruction and impending respiratory failure. Wheezing is not a reliable manifestation to determine the severity of an asthma attack. Clients with minor attacks may experience loud wheezes, whereas others with severe attacks may not wheeze. The client with severe asthma attacks may have no audible wheezing because of the decrease of airflow. For wheezing to occur, the client must be able to move sufficient air to produce breath sounds. Emotional apprehension is likely whatever the degree of respiratory distress being experienced.
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The nurse teaches a postpartum client about postdelivery lochia. The nurse determines that the education has been effective when the client says that on the second day postpartum, the lochia should be which color?
- A. Red
- B. Pink
- C. White
- D. Yellow
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The uterus rids itself of the debris that remains after birth through a discharge called lochia, which is classified according to its appearance and contents. Lochia rubra is dark red in color. It occurs from delivery to 3 days postpartum and contains epithelial cells, erythrocytes, leukocytes, shreds of decidua, and occasionally fetal meconium, lanugo, and vernix caseosa. Lochia serosa is a brownish pink discharge that occurs from days 4 to 10. Lochia alba is a white discharge that occurs from days 10 to 14. Lochia should not be yellow or contain large clots; if it does, the cause should be investigated without delay.
The nurse has just administered a purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin skin test (Mantoux test) to a client who is at low risk for developing tuberculosis. The nurse determines that the test is positive if which occurs?
- A. An induration of 15 mm
- B. The presence of a wheal
- C. A large area of erythema
- D. Itching at the injection site
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: An induration of 10 mm or more is considered positive for clients in low-risk groups. The presence of a wheal would indicate that the skin test was administered appropriately. Erythema or itching at the site is not indicative of a positive reaction.
A client has been admitted with a diagnosis of acute glomerulonephritis. During history taking, the nurse should ask the client about a recent history of which event?
- A. Bleeding ulcer
- B. Myocardial infarction
- C. Deep vein thrombosis
- D. Streptococcal infection
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The predominant cause of acute glomerulonephritis is infection with beta-hemolytic Streptococcus 3 weeks before the onset of symptoms. In addition to bacteria, other infectious agents that could trigger the disorder include viruses, fungi, and parasites. Bleeding ulcer, myocardial infarction, and deep vein thrombosis are not precipitating causes.
The nurse is assessing the respiratory status of the client after a thoracentesis has been performed. The nurse would become concerned with which assessment finding?
- A. Equal bilateral chest expansion
- B. Respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute
- C. Diminished breath sounds on the affected side
- D. Few scattered wheezes, unchanged from baseline
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: After thoracentesis, the nurse assesses vital signs and breath sounds. The nurse especially notes increased respiratory rates, dyspnea, retractions, diminished breath sounds, or cyanosis, which could indicate pneumothorax. Any of these manifestations should be reported to the primary health care provider. Options 1 and 2 are normal findings. Option 4 indicates a finding that is unchanged from the baseline.
The nurse admits a client who is bleeding freely from a scalp laceration that resulted from a fall. The nurse should take which action first in the care of this wound?
- A. Prepare for suturing the area.
- B. Determine when the client last had a tetanus vaccine.
- C. Cleanse the wound by flushing with sterile normal saline.
- D. Apply direct pressure to the laceration to stop the bleeding.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In the presence of active bleeding from a scalp laceration, the priority is to control the bleeding to prevent further blood loss and stabilize the client. Applying direct pressure to the laceration is the most effective initial action to achieve this. Preparing for suturing, determining tetanus vaccine status, and cleansing the wound are important but secondary actions that follow after bleeding is controlled.
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