Nokea
The nurse is caring for a 43-year-old client.
Nurses' Notes Vital Signs
Emergency Department
0800: A 43-year-old client comes to the emergency department due to lower back pain and bilateral leg weakness. The client reports that the weakness began 3 days ago in the feet and has gradually worsened. The client sought treatment today after becoming "so weak that I fell while walking" and noticing new hand weakness and difficulty swallowing. Back pain radiates down both legs and is rated as 5 on a scale of 0-10. The client recently recovered from an illness with flu-like symptoms. The client reports a history of hypertension and takes no medications. Assessment of the lower extremities reveals muscle strength of 2/5 and decreased sensation to pinprick. Achilles tendon and patellar reflexes are decreased
Which finding is the most concerning to the nurse at this time?
- A. Bilateral leg weakness
- B. Difficulty swallowing
- C. Elevated blood pressure
- D. Radiating lower back pain
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Difficulty swallowing indicates bulbar involvement in Guillain-Barré syndrome, risking aspiration and requiring urgent intervention.
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The nurse is caring for a 55-year-old client in the clinic.
History and Physical
Body System
Findings: General - The client reports cramping pain in the left calf that has worsened over the past year. The pain is precipitated by walking and is partially relieved with rest. The client reports difficulty walking more than 3 blocks. Height: 72 in (182.9 cm), weight: 250 lb (113.4 kg), BMI: 33.9 kg/m?
Pulmonary- Vital signs are RR 16, SpO, 97% on room air. Client reports smoking 1 pack of cigarettes daily for the past 35 years. Breath sounds are mildly decreased throughout with mild prolonged expiration. Client has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Cardiovascular- Vital signs are T 98.8 F (37.1 C), P 82, BP 146/82. S1 and S2 heard on auscultation. The left lower extremity (LLE) is cooler to touch than the right and appears shiny with sparse hair. LLE pulses: femoral 2+, popliteal 1+, posterior tibia 1+, dorsalis pedis audible with Doppler. LLE capillary refill >3 sec. Client has a history of hypertension.
Gastrointestinal- Client is obese. No tenderness, guarding, masses, bruits, or hepatosplenomegaly.
Click to highlight below the findings that require immediate follow-up.
- A. General - The client reports cramping pain in the left calf that has worsened over the past year. The pain is precipitated by walking and is partially relieved with rest. The client reports difficulty walking more than 3 blocks. Height: 72 in (182.9 cm), weight: 250 lb (113.4 kg), BMI: 33.9 kg/m²
- B. Pulmonary - Vital signs are RR 16, SpO2 97% on room air. Client reports smoking 1 pack of cigarettes daily for the past 35 years. Breath sounds are mildly decreased
- C. Cardiovascular - Vital signs are T 98.8 F (37.1 C), P 82, BP 146/82. S1 and S2 heard on auscultation. The left lower extremity (LLE) is cooler to touch than the right and appears shiny with sparse hair. LLE pulses: femoral 2+, popliteal 1+, posterior tibia 1+, dorsalis pedis audible with Doppler. LLE capillary refill >3 sec. Client has a history of hypertension.
- D. Gastrointestinal - Client is obese. No tenderness, guarding, masses, bruits, or hepatosplenomegaly.
Correct Answer: A,C
Rationale: Calf pain with walking and poor peripheral pulses/cool skin suggest peripheral artery disease, requiring urgent vascular evaluation.
The nurse is caring for a 75-year-old female client. Nurses' Notes Laboratory Results Diagnostic Results Emergency Department
The client is transferred to the emergency department from a skilled nursing facility for a 3-day history of left lower quadrant abdominal pain rated 8 on a scale of 0-10, loss of appetite, and nausea. Although the client has a history of chronic constipation, she has had 2 or 3 loose stools daily for 1 week. The client reports tenderness on deep palpation of the left lower quadrant. There is an area of blanchable redness on the coccyx. The stool is positive for occult blood.
The client has residual left-sided weakness from an ischemic stroke 2 years ago and ambulates with a walker. The client reports falling several times in the past 6 months; the last fall was 3 weeks ago No ecchymosis or injuries are noted. The client had a hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy for uterine fibroids 20 years ago. Vital signs are T 100 F (37.8 C), P 98, RR 17, BP 126/68, and SpOz 97% on room air.
Medical-Surgical Unit: 4 Days Later
The client continues to experience left lower quadrant pain, decreased appetite, and nausea. Today, she developed chills. Stool frequency has not increased. Severe tenderness is noted in the left lower quadrant, and a mass is palpable. Vital signs are T 101.3 F (38.5 C), P 112, RR 17, BP 110/80, SpO, 97% on room air.
Complications associated with acute diverticulitis include ........, ........ and ........
- A. Pyelonephritis
- B. Fistula formation
- C. Bowel perforation
- D. Abscess formation
- E. Rupture of the appendix
Correct Answer: B,C,D
Rationale: Diverticulitis complications include fistula , perforation , and abscess .
The nurse is assisting the registered nurse with caring for a client who is at 36 weeks gestation. History and Physical Vital Signs
General - Client is gravida 2 para 1 at 36 weeks gestation; reports a throbbing headache rated as / on a scale of 0-10, blurred vision, and epigastric pain; client states that she took 1000 mg of acetaminophen 2 hours ago with no relief, medical history includes seasonal allergies and exercise-induced asthma
Neurological -Patellar deep tendon reflexes 2+ bilaterally, clonus absent
Cardiovascular -Heart tones normal; facial edema noted; +2 pitting edema in bilateral upper extremities; +3 pitting edema in bilateral lower extremities
Gastrointestinal -Client reports fetal movement, no contractions noted; soft uterine resting tone on palpation
Genitourinary -Cervical examination: 1 cm dilated, 0% effaced, -3 fetal station, cephalic fetal presentation, amniotic membranes intact; cesarean birth 5 years ago at 40 weeks gestation for breech fetal presentation, resulting in delivery of healthy newborn
Which finding is a priority for the nurse?
- A. Blood pressure
- B. Cervical examination
- C. Deep tendon reflexes
- D. Gestational age of fetus Body
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Elevated blood pressure is a critical finding in suspected preeclampsia, indicating a risk for severe complications.
The nurse is caring for a 16-year-old client.
History and Physical Laboratory Results
Body System- Findings
General- The client comes to the emergency department with pain in the upper back, both knees, and the lower legs that is rated as 9 on a scale of 0-10; medical history includes sickle cell disease; the client reports attending an outdoor sports camp for the past 4 days; the client appears restless with frequent position changes and facial grimacing
Neurological- The client is alert and oriented to person, place, and time
Pulmonary- Vital signs: RR 24, SpOz 95% on room air, breath sounds are clear bilaterally Cardiovascular- Vital signs: T 98.4 F (36.9 C), P 120, BP 130/78; S1 and S2 are auscultated with no murmurs, continuous cardiac monitor shows sinus tachycardia
Gastrointestinal- The abdomen is soft and nontender with normal bowel sounds; the client vomited 30 mL of clear liquid
Musculoskeletal- The client has multiple, tender, bony points
Genitourinary- The client voided 50 mL of clear, amber-colored urine
Click to highlight below the 4 findings that require immediate follow-up.
- A. Pain in the upper back, both knees, and the lower legs that is rated as 9 on a scale of 0-10; medical history includes sickle cell disease, the client reports attending an outdoor sports camp for the past 4 days
- B. The client appears restless with frequent position changes and facial grimacing
- C. Vital signs: RR 24, SpO2 95% on room air; breath sounds are clear bilaterally
- D. Vital signs: T 98.4 F (36.9 C), P 120, BP 130/78; S1 and S2 are auscultated with no murmurs; continuous cardiac monitor shows sinus tachycardia
- E. The client vomited 30 mL of clear liquid
- F. The client has multiple, tender, bony points
- G. The client voided 50 mL of clear, amber-colored urine
Correct Answer: A,B,D,F
Rationale: Severe pain , distress signs , tachycardia , and bony tenderness indicate a sickle cell crisis, requiring urgent management.
The nurse is caring for a 55-year-old client in the clinic.
History and Physical
Body System
Findings: General - The client reports cramping pain in the left calf that has worsened over the past year. The pain is precipitated by walking and is partially relieved with rest. The client reports difficulty walking more than 3 blocks. Height: 72 in (182.9 cm), weight: 250 lb (113.4 kg), BMI: 33.9 kg/m?
Pulmonary- Vital signs are RR 16, SpO, 97% on room air. Client reports smoking 1 pack of cigarettes daily for the past 35 years. Breath sounds are mildly decreased throughout with mild prolonged expiration. Client has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Cardiovascular- Vital signs are T 98.8 F (37.1 C), P 82, BP 146/82. S1 and S2 heard on auscultation. The left lower extremity (LLE) is cooler to touch than the right and appears shiny with sparse hair. LLE pulses: femoral 2+, popliteal 1+, posterior tibia 1+, dorsalis pedis audible with Doppler. LLE capillary refill >3 sec. Client has a history of hypertension.
Gastrointestinal- Client is obese. No tenderness, guarding, masses, bruits, or hepatosplenomegaly.
For each potential prescription, click to specify if prescription is expected or unexpected for the care of the client.
- A. Antiplatelet medication
- B. Lipid-lowering medication
- C. Antihypertensive medication
- D. Blood testing for hemoglobin A1c
- E. Referral for supervised exercise therapy
- F. Graduated compression stockings to the left lower extremity
Correct Answer: A,B,C,D,E
Rationale: Antiplatelets , statins , antihypertensives , A1c testing , and exercise therapy are expected for peripheral artery disease. Compression stockings are for venous insufficiency.