Nokea
The nurse is reporting the current nursing assessment to the physician. Vital signs: temperature, $97.2^{\circ} \mathrm{F}$; pulse, 68 beats/minute, thready; respiration, 28 breaths/minute, blood pressure, $102 / 78 \mathrm{~mm} \mathrm{Hg}$; and pedal pulses, palpable. The physician asks for the pulse pressure. Which would the nurse report?
- A. Within normal limits
- B. Thready
- C. 24
- D. Palpable
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The pulse pressure is the numeric difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure. By subtracting the two numbers, the physician would be told 24 . The pulse pressure does not report quality of the pulse.
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The nurse is obtaining physician orders which include a pulse pressure. The nurse is correct to report which of the following?
- A. The difference between an apical and radial pulse
- B. The difference between an upper extremity and lower extremity blood pressure
- C. The difference between the systolic and diastolic pressure
- D. The difference between the arterial and venous blood pressure
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse would report the difference between the systolic blood pressure number and the diastolic blood pressure number as the pulse pressure.
The nurse is performing hourly assessments on a client in the compensation stage of shock. In documenting the hourly urine output of $40 \mathrm{~mL}$ from the Foley catheter, which nursing action is most appropriate?
- A. Reposition the client and make sure there are no kinks in the catheter tubing.
- B. Notify the physician of the hourly output and encourage physician assessment.
- C. Record $40 \mathrm{~mL}$ as the hourly output.
- D. Notify the family of the urine output.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Urine output above $35 \mathrm{~mL} /$ hour or $500 \mathrm{~mL} /$ day indicates adequate kidney perfusion. The hourly output would be documented in the client record. There is no need to reposition the client or look for a kink because adequate amounts of urine is collecting in the tube. There is no need to notify the physician or family.
The nurse is caring for a motor vehicle accident client who is unresponsive on arrival to the emergency department. The client has numerous fractures, internal abdominal injuries, and large lacerations on the head and torso. The family arrives and seeks update on the client's condition. A family member asks, 'What causes the body to go into shock?' Given the client's condition, which statement is most correct?
- A. The client is in shock because the blood volume has decreased in the system.'
- B. The client is in shock because the heart is unable to circulate the body fluids.'
- C. The client is in shock because your loved one is not responding and brain dead.'
- D. The client is in shock because all peripheral blood vessels have massively dilated.'
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when arterial blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues and cells are inadequate. Hypovolemic shock, where the volume of extracellular fluid is significantly diminished due to the loss of or reduced blood or plasma, frequently occurs with accidents.
The nurse is assessing a 6-year-old child in the emergency department (ED) who was brought in by the parent. The child was stung by a bee and is allergic to bee venom. The child is now having trouble breathing, and is vasodilated, hypotensive, and has broken out in hives. What does the nurse suspect is wrong with this child?
- A. The child is having an allergic reaction and going into cardiogenic shock.
- B. The child is having an allergic reaction and going into anaphylactic shock.
- C. The child is having an allergic reaction and going into neurogenic shock.
- D. The child is having an allergic reaction and going into obstructive shock.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction that follows exposure to a substance to which a person is extremely sensitive (see Ch. 34). Common allergic substances include bee venom, latex, fish, nuts, and penicillin. The body's immune response to the allergic substance causes mast cells in the connective tissues, bronchi, and gastrointestinal tract to release histamine and other chemicals. The results are vasodilatation, increased capillary permeability accompanied by swelling of the airway and subcutaneous tissues, hypotension, and hives or an itchy rash. Cardiogenic shock, neurogenic shock, and obstructive shock would not begin with vasodilation, swelling of the airway, and hives.
The community health nurse finds the client collapsed outdoors. The nurse assesses that the client is shallow breathing and has a weak pulse. Emergency medical services (EMS) is notified by the neighbor. Which nursing action is helpful while waiting for the ambulance?
- A. Place a cool compress on head.
- B. Elevate the legs higher than the heart.
- C. Shake the client to arouse.
- D. Cover the client with a blanket.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The client has shallow respiration and a weak pulse implying limited circulation and gas exchange. Most helpful would be to elevate the legs higher than the heart to promote blood perfusion to the heart, lungs, and brain. A cool compress would not be helpful nor would shaking the client to arouse. A client can be covered with a blanket, but this is not the most helpful.