What action should the nurse take to assess the pharyngeal reflex on a child?
- A. Ask the client to swallow.
- B. Pull down on the lower eyelid.
- C. Shine a light toward the bridge of the nose.
- D. Stimulate the back of the throat with a tongue depressor.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The pharyngeal (gag) reflex is tested by touching the back of the throat with an object, such as a tongue depressor. A positive response to this reflex is considered normal. Asking the client to swallow assesses the swallowing reflex. To assess the palpebral conjunctiva, the nurse would pull down and evert the lower eyelid. The corneal light reflex is tested by shining a penlight toward the bridge of the nose at a distance of 12 to 15 inches (light reflection should be symmetrical in both corneas).
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The nurse monitors a client prescribed a thiazide diuretic for which clinical manifestations of hypokalemia? Select all that apply.
- A. Muscle twitches
- B. Deep tendon hyporeflexia
- C. Prominent U wave on ECG
- D. General skeletal muscle weakness
- E. Hypoactive to absent bowel sounds
- F. Tall T waves on electrocardiogram (ECG)
Correct Answer: B,C,D,E
Rationale: Hypokalemia is a serum potassium level less than 3.5 mEq/L. Clinical manifestations include ECG abnormalities such as ST depression, inverted T wave, prominent U wave, and heart block. Other manifestations include deep tendon hyporeflexia, general skeletal muscle weakness, decreased bowel motility and hypoactive to absent bowel sounds, shallow ineffective respirations and diminished breath sounds, polyuria, decreased ability to concentrate urine, and decreased urine specific gravity. Tall T waves and muscle twitches are manifestations of hyperkalemia.
A prenatal client has a suspected diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia. On assessment, which finding should the nurse expect to note as a result of this condition?
- A. Dehydration
- B. Overhydration
- C. A high hematocrit level
- D. A low hemoglobin level
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Pathological anemia of pregnancy is primarily caused by iron deficiency. When the hemoglobin level is below 11 mg/dL (110 mmol/L), iron deficiency is suspected. An indirect index of the oxygen-carrying capacity is determined via a packed red blood cell volume or hematocrit level. Dehydration and overhydration are not specifically associated with iron deficiency anemia.
The nurse is caring for a client receiving bolus feedings via a nasogastric (NG) tube. The nurse should place the client in which position to administer the feeding?
- A. Supine
- B. Semi-Fowler's
- C. Trendelenburg's
- D. Lateral recumbent
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clients are at high risk for aspiration during an NG tube feeding because the tube bypasses a protective mechanism, the gag reflex. The head of the bed is elevated 35 to 40 degrees (Semi-Fowler's) to prevent this complication by facilitating gastric emptying. The remaining options increase the risk of aspiration by blunting the effect of gravity on gastric emptying.
A pregnant client reports that her last menstrual period was February 9, 2018. Using Nägele's rule, what will the nurse determine as the estimated date of birth?
- A. 7-Oct-18
- B. 16-Oct-18
- C. 7-Nov-18
- D. 16-Nov-18
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Accurate use of Nägele's rule requires that the woman has a regular 28-day menstrual cycle. To calculate the estimated date of birth, the nurse would subtract 3 months from the first day of the last menstrual period, add 7 days, and then adjust the year as appropriate. First day of last menstrual period: February 9, 2018; subtract 3 months: November 9, 2017; add 7 days: November 16, 2017; and add 1 year, November 16, 2018.
A visiting home care nurse finds a client unconscious in the bedroom. The client has a history of abusing the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, sertraline. The nurse should immediately conduct which assessment?
- A. Pulse
- B. Respirations
- C. Blood pressure
- D. Urinary output
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In an emergency situation, the nurse should determine breathlessness first and then assess for a pulse. Blood pressure would be assessed after these assessments are performed. Urinary output is also important but is not the priority at this time.