The nurse is caring for a 25-year-old female client.
History and Physical
Body System
General
Client reports jitteriness, anxiety, and palpitations for the past 2 months. Fine hand tremor is noted. Client reports insomnia for approximately 1 week.
Integumentary
Client is diaphoretic.
Eye, Ear, Nose, andThroat (EENT)
Exophthalmos is noted. Goiter is present.
Gastrointestinal
Client reports 10 lb (4.5 kg) weight loss over the past month. Bowel sounds are normoactive. Client reports diarrhea for the past few days.
Reproductive
Last menstrual period was 3 months ago.
Vital Signs
T 99.2 F (37.3 C)
P 164
RR 22
BP 156/92
Which clinical finding is most concerning at this time?
- A. Diarrhea
- B. Fine hand tremor
- C. Tachycardia
- D. Weight loss
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tachycardia (pulse 164) is most concerning as it may indicate severe hyperthyroidism or other cardiovascular issues requiring immediate intervention.
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The nurse is caring for a 6-hour-old newborn.
Nurses' Notes
Emergency Department
A newborn is brought to the emergency department due to coughing and difficulty feeding. The client was born at home 6 hours ago via spontaneous vaginal birth. With each attempt to breastfeed, the client coughs, vomits, and "turns blue." The mother did not receive prenatal care. She reports a history of opioid use disorder but reports no opioid use during pregnancy.
Vital signs: T 98.6 F (37 C), P 120, RR 50, and SpOz 95% on room air. Abdominal distension is present. Ballard scoring estimates the client at 37 weeks gestation. Weight and length are consistent with the 25th and 50th percentiles for estimated age, respectively.
Select 2 findings that require immediate feedback?
- A. A newborn is brought to the emergency department due to coughing and difficulty feeding.
- B. The client was born at home 6 hours ago via spontaneous vaginal birth.
- C. With each attempt to breastfeed, the client coughs, vomits, and 'turns blue.'
- D. She reports a history of opioid use disorder but reports no opioid use during pregnancy.
- E. Vital signs: T 98.6 F (37 C), P 120, RR 50, and SpO2 95% on room air.
- F. Ballard scoring estimates the client at 37 weeks gestation.
- G. Weight and length are consistent with the 25th and 50th percentiles for estimated age, respectively.
Correct Answer: C,E
Rationale: Coughing, vomiting, and cyanosis during feeding indicate potential airway or gastrointestinal issues, such as tracheoesophageal fistula. The elevated respiratory rate (RR 50) suggests respiratory distress, requiring immediate attention.
The nurse is caring for a client at a women’s health clinic.
History & Physical
Labor and delivery unit
0800:
A 28-year-old nulliparous female comes to the clinic for confirmation of suspected pregnancy due to amenorrhea and a positive home pregnancy test. The client's current exercise regimen includes indoor cycling and outdoor running. The client reports nausea, vomiting, and breast tenderness. She has a 28-day menstrual cycle, and her last menstrual period was March 10- 17. The health care provider notes a bluish-purple vaginal mucosa and cervix during pelvic examination and confirms a 12-week intrauterine pregnancy by sonography. A fetal heart rate of 155/min is detected with handheld Doppler.
Which of the following topics should the nurse reinforce during the initial prenatal visit? Select all that apply.
- A. Commitment to pain management preferences during labor
- B. Expected discomforts of pregnancy
- C. Foods to avoid
- D. Herbal supplements and over-the-counter medications to avoid
- E. Method of delivery
- F. Symptoms of potential pregnancy complications
Correct Answer: B,C,D,F
Rationale: The initial prenatal visit should focus on educating about expected discomforts (e.g., nausea), foods to avoid (e.g., raw fish), medications/supplements to avoid, and symptoms of complications. Pain management and delivery method are discussed later.
The nurse in the surgical unit is caring for a 57-year-old client who underwent an abdominal hysterectomy.
Progress Notes
1 Day Postoperative
0800:
The client underwent total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy and tumor debulking 1 day ago for treatment of ovarian cancer. She has had four episodes of vomiting with bilious emesis over the past 12 hours, which have continued despite V antiemetic administration. The client has been receiving V broad-spectrum antibiotics since the procedure. The skin is warm. A low transverse abdominal incision is present; staples are clean and dry. Chest expansion is symmetric; respirations are unlabored: diminished breath sounds are auscultated in bilateral lower lobes. Radial pulses 2+ bilaterally, capillary refill <3 seconds in all four extremities; no peripheral edema is noted. The client reports frequent hot flashes occurring roughly every hour, starting last night. The abdomen is markedly distended and tender to palpation. Bowel sounds are absent in all four quadrants; the client reports no flatus. Urine is clear yellow with moderate output. The client reports incontinence with coughing or during episodes of vomiting.
For each finding below, click to specify if the finding is consistent with the disease process of postoperative ileus or small bowel obstruction.
- A. Vomiting
- B. Abdominal pain
- C. Abdominal distension
- D. Hypoactive bowel sounds
Correct Answer: A,B,C,D
Rationale: A: Consistent with both - Vomiting occurs in both postoperative ileus and small bowel obstruction due to impaired gut motility or blockage. B: Consistent with both - Abdominal pain is common in both conditions due to distension or obstruction. C: Consistent with both - Abdominal distension results from gas/fluid accumulation in both. D: Consistent with both - Hypoactive bowel sounds reflect reduced peristalsis in ileus or obstruction.
Nurses' Notes
0930:
The client reports shortness of breath and left-sided chest pain for 2 days. The client fractured the right femoral neck a month ago after a fall and decided against operative management. Since then, the client has been wheelchair dependent and takes acetaminophen for fracture pain management. The client was placed on continuous cardiac monitoring.
History and physical
Body System
Neurological
The client is awake, alert, and oriented to person, place, time, and situation; the client appears anxious
Pulmonary
Vital signs are RR 22, SpOz 89% on room air; bilateral breath sounds are clear; pain increases with inhalation; the client reports shortness of breath for the past 2 days; the client smoked 1 pack of cigarettes per day for 10 years.
Cardiovascular
Vital signs are T 99.8 F (37.7 C), P 110, BP 110/60; S1 and S2 are present; there are no murmurs, redness and edema of the right lower extremity are noted; sinus tachycardia is seen on the monitor, chest pain is reported as 7 on a scale of 0-10
Musculoskeletal
The client has osteoporosis, is wheelchair dependent, and is unable to bear weight on the right leg
For each finding below, click to specify if the finding is consistent with the disease process of myocardial infarction, pneumonia, or pulmonary embolism.
- A. Dyspnea
- B. Chest pain
- C. Hypoxemia
- D. Sinus tachycardia
- E. Right lower extremity redness and edema
Correct Answer: A: Myocardial infarction, Pneumonia, Pulmonary embolism; B: Myocardial infarction, Pneumonia, Pulmonary embolism; C: Pneumonia, Pulmonary embolism; D: Myocardial infarction, Pulmonary embolism; E: Pulmonary embolism
Rationale: A: Dyspnea is common in all three due to impaired oxygenation or cardiac output. B: Chest pain occurs in all three, though the nature varies (e.g., pleuritic in pneumonia/PE, crushing in MI). C: Hypoxemia is typical in pneumonia (due to alveolar impairment) and PE (due to ventilation-perfusion mismatch). D: Sinus tachycardia is seen in MI (due to cardiac stress) and PE (due to hypoxia and embolism). E: Right lower extremity redness and edema suggest DVT, which is strongly associated with PE.
The nurse is caring for a 25-year-old female client.
History and Physical
Body System
General
Client reports jitteriness, anxiety, and palpitations for the past 2 months. Fine hand tremor is noted. Client reports insomnia for approximately 1 week.
Integumentary
Client is diaphoretic.
Eye, Ear, Nose, andThroat (EENT)
Exophthalmos is noted. Goiter is present.
Gastrointestinal
Client reports 10 lb (4.5 kg) weight loss over the past month. Bowel sounds are normoactive. Client reports diarrhea for the past few days.
Reproductive
Last menstrual period was 3 months ago.
Vital Signs
T 99.2 F (37.3 C)
P 164
RR 22
BP 156/92
For each finding below, click to specify if the finding is consistent with the disease process of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Each finding may support more than one disease process. Note: Each column must have at least one response option selected.
- A. Weight gain
- B. Tachycardia
- C. Constipation
- D. Exophthalmos
- E. Heat intolerance
- F. Fine hand tremor
Correct Answer: A: Hypothyroidism, B: Hyperthyroidism, C: Hypothyroidism, D: Hyperthyroidism, E: Hyperthyroidism, F: Hyperthyroidism
Rationale: Hyperthyroidism is characterized by increased metabolic rate, leading to tachycardia, exophthalmos, heat intolerance, and fine hand tremor. Hypothyroidism, with a decreased metabolic rate, is associated with weight gain and constipation.
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