The nurse is preparing a client diagnosed with Graves' disease to receive radioactive iodine therapy. What information should the nurse share with the client about the therapy?
- A. After the initial dose, subsequent treatments must continue lifelong.
- B. The radioactive iodine is designed to destroy the entire thyroid gland with just one dose.
- C. It takes 6 to 8 weeks after treatment to experience relief from the symptoms of the disease.
- D. High radioactivity levels prohibit contact with family for 4 weeks after the initial treatment.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Graves' disease is also known as toxic diffuse goiter and is characterized by a hyperthyroid state resulting from hypersecretion of thyroid hormones. After treatment with radioactive iodine therapy, a decrease in the thyroid hormone level should be noted, which helps alleviate symptoms. Relief of symptoms does not occur until 6 to 8 weeks after initial treatment. Occasionally, a client may require a second or third dose, but treatments are not lifelong. This form of therapy is not designed to destroy the entire gland; rather, some of the cells that synthesize thyroid hormone will be destroyed by the local radiation. The nurse must reassure the client and family that unless the dosage is extremely high, clients are not required to observe radiation precautions. The rationale for this is that the radioactivity quickly dissipates.
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During a health assessment, the client tells the nurse that she was diagnosed with endometriosis. Which explanation presented by the client demonstrates an understanding of the description of the condition?
- A. Endometriosis is known as primary dysmenorrhea.
- B. Endometriosis is what causes me the pain that occurs when I ovulate.
- C. Endometriosis is the condition that has caused me to stop menstruating.
- D. Endometriosis means that I have uterine tissue growing outside my uterus.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Endometriosis is defined as the presence of tissue outside the uterus that resembles the endometrium in structure, function, and response to estrogen and progesterone during the menstrual cycle. Mittelschmerz refers to pelvic pain that occurs midway between menstrual periods coinciding with ovulation. Primary dysmenorrhea refers to menstrual pain without identified pathology. Amenorrhea, the cessation of menstruation for a period of at least 3 cycles or 6 months in a woman who has established a pattern of menstruation, can result from a variety of causes.
The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with preeclampsia. When the client's condition progresses from preeclampsia to eclampsia, what should the nurse's first action be?
- A. Maintain an open airway.
- B. Administer oxygen by face mask.
- C. Assess the maternal blood pressure and fetal heart tones.
- D. Administer an intravenous infusion of magnesium sulfate.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Eclampsia is characterized by the occurrence of seizures. If the client experiences seizures, it is important as a first action to establish and maintain an open airway and prevent injuries to the client. Options 2, 3, and 4 are all interventions that should be done but not initially.
The nurse has applied the prescribed dressing to the leg of a client with an ischemic arterial leg ulcer. Which method should the nurse use to cover the dressing?
- A. Apply a Kerlix roll and tape it to the skin.
- B. Apply a large, soft pad and tape it to the skin.
- C. Apply small Montgomery straps and tie the edges together.
- D. Apply a Kling roll and tape the edge of the roll onto the bandage.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Standard dressing technique includes the use of Kling rolls on circumferential dressings. With an arterial leg ulcer, the nurse applies tape only to the bandage. Tape is never used directly on the skin because it could cause further tissue damage. For the same reason, Montgomery straps should not be applied to the skin (although these are generally intended for use on abdominal wounds, anyway).
The nurse is planning to give a tepid tub bath to a child experiencing hyperthermia. Which action should the nurse plan to perform?
- A. Obtain isopropyl alcohol to add to the bath water.
- B. Allow 5 minutes for the child to soak in the bath water.
- C. Have cool water available to add to the warm bath water.
- D. Warm the water to the same body temperature as the child's.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Adding cool water to an already warm bath allows the water temperature to slowly drop. The child is able to gradually adjust to the changing water temperature and will not experience chilling. Alcohol is toxic, can cause peripheral vasoconstriction, and is contraindicated for tepid sponge or tub baths. The child should be in a tepid tub bath for 20 to 30 minutes to achieve maximum results. To achieve the best cooling results, the water temperature should be at least 2 degrees lower than the child's body temperature.
The nurse is caring for a client with a terminal condition who is dying. Which respiratory assessment findings should indicate to the nurse that death is imminent? Select all that apply.
- A. Dyspnea
- B. Cyanosis
- C. Tachypnea
- D. Kussmaul's respiration
- E. Irregular respiratory pattern
- F. Adventitious bubbling lung sounds
Correct Answer: A,B,E,F
Rationale: Respiratory assessment findings that indicate death is imminent include poor gas exchange as evidenced by hypoxia, dyspnea, or cyanosis; altered patterns of respiration, such as slow, labored, irregular, or Cheyne-Stokes pattern (alternating periods of apnea and deep, rapid breathing); increased respiratory secretions and adventitious bubbling lung sounds (death rattle); and irritation of the tracheobronchial airway as evidenced by hiccups, chest pain, fatigue, or exhaustion. Kussmaul's respirations are abnormally deep, very rapid sighing respirations characteristic of diabetic ketoacidosis. Tachypnea is defined as rapid breathing.