Which assessment finding is most indicative of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in a client's right leg?
- A. Dorsiflexes the right foot and left foot on command
- B. A 3 by 5 cm ecchymosis area on the right calf
- C. Right calf is 3 cm larger in circumference than the left calf
- D. Bilateral lower extremities have 3+ pitting edema
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because a significant difference in calf circumference between the legs is a classic sign of DVT. This is due to the obstruction of blood flow in the deep veins of the leg, leading to swelling in the affected limb. Choices A, B, and D are not typical findings of DVT. Choice A describes a neurological response, choice B indicates a bruise on the right calf, and choice D describes pitting edema in both lower extremities, which are not specific signs of DVT.
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The nurse is managing the care of a client with Cushing's syndrome. Which interventions should the nurse delegate to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)? (Select all that apply)
- A. Evaluate the client for sleep disturbances
- B. limit client exercise
- C. Report any client complaint of pain or discomfort
- D. Note and report the client's food and liquid intake during meals and snacks
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Weighing the client and monitoring food and liquid intake are appropriate tasks to delegate to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) when managing a client with Cushing's syndrome. These tasks provide essential information for evaluating the client's condition and response to treatment. Evaluating for sleep disturbances and reporting client complaints of pain or discomfort require a higher level of assessment and interpretation, which should be performed by licensed healthcare providers. Therefore, options A and C are tasks that involve assessment and interpretation beyond the scope of practice for UAP.
Three hours following a right carotid endarterectomy, the nurse notes a moderate amount of bloody drainage on the client's dressing. Which additional assessment finding warrants immediate intervention by the nurse?
- A. Sore throat when swallowing
- B. Tongue deviation to the left
- C. Palpable temporal pulses
- D. Temperature of 99.2°F (37.3°C)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tongue deviation to the left is the correct answer. It could indicate a complication such as nerve injury or hematoma, which requires immediate attention. A sore throat when swallowing may be expected postoperatively but does not indicate an immediate complication. Palpable temporal pulses are a normal finding and do not require immediate intervention. A temperature of 99.2°F (37.3°C) is slightly elevated but does not suggest a critical issue related to the surgery.
A male client with schizophrenia is jerking his neck and smacking his lips. Which finding indicates to the nurse that he is experiencing an irreversible side effect of antipsychotic agents?
- A. Cramping muscular pain
- B. Worming movements of the tongue
- C. Decreased tendon reflexes
- D. Dry oral mucous membranes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Worming movements of the tongue. Worming movements of the tongue, known as tardive dyskinesia, are an irreversible side effect of antipsychotic medications. Tardive dyskinesia is characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements of the tongue, lips, face, trunk, and extremities. Cramping muscular pain (Choice A) is more indicative of dystonia, an extrapyramidal side effect that can be treated effectively with antiparkinsonian medications. Decreased tendon reflexes (Choice C) are not typically associated with irreversible side effects of antipsychotic agents. Dry oral mucous membranes (Choice D) are not specific to irreversible side effects of antipsychotic medications.
A young adult male who is being seen at the employee health care clinic for an annual assessment tells the nurse that his mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia when she was his age and that life with a schizophrenic mother was difficult indeed. Which response is best for the nurse to provide?
- A. Ask the client if he is worried about becoming schizophrenic at the age his mother was diagnosed.
- B. Encourage the client to seek genetic counseling to determine his risk for mental illness.
- C. Inform the client that his mother's schizophrenia has affected his psychological development.
- D. Tell the client that mental illness has a familial predisposition so he should see a psychiatrist.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
In preparing a care plan for a client admitted with a diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome, which nursing problem has the highest priority?
- A. Ineffective coping related to uncertainty of disease progression
- B. Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements related to impaired swallowing reflex
- C. Ineffective breathing pattern related to ascending paralysis
- D. Impaired physical mobility related to asymmetrical descending paralysis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ineffective breathing pattern is the highest priority nursing problem for a client with Guillain-Barre syndrome due to the potential risk of respiratory failure. As the paralysis ascends, it can affect the muscles needed for breathing, leading to respiratory compromise. Addressing this problem promptly is crucial to prevent respiratory distress and failure. Choices A, B, and D are also important nursing problems in Guillain-Barre syndrome, but ensuring effective breathing takes precedence over coping, nutrition, and mobility due to the immediate threat it poses to the client's life.