A client has been taking aspirin 325 mg six to eight times a day for the past two weeks to control pain from a knee injury.
Which symptom reported by the client should the nurse report to the health care provider (HCP) for priority follow-up?

Diminished breath sounds in a client admitted with pneumonia. This is because diminished breath sounds indicate a worsening of the respiratory condition and a possible complication of pneumonia, such as atelectasis or pleural effusion.

The healthcare provider should be notified immediately to assess the client and order appropriate interventions.

Choice A is wrong because a report of joint pain by a client who recently started taking arthritis medication is not an urgent finding.

Joint pain is a common symptom of arthritis and may take some time to improve with medication.

The nurse should monitor the client’s pain level and administer analgesics as prescribed.

Choice B is wrong because report of decreased appetite and difficulty sleeping is not an immediate concern.

These are nonspecific symptoms that may be related to stress, anxiety, depression, or other factors.

The nurse should explore the possible causes of these symptoms and provide emotional support and education to the client.

Choice C is wrong because a weight loss of two pounds in a client admitted to congestive heart failure is not a critical finding.

Weight loss may indicate a reduction of fluid retention, which is a desired outcome for clients with heart failure.

The nurse should monitor the client’s weight daily and report any significant changes to the health care provider.

Normal ranges for weight, appetite, sleep, joint pain, and breath sounds vary depending on the individual’s age, gender, height, activity level, medical history, and other factors.

This is because the prescribed dose is 1 tablespoon, which is equivalent to 15 ml. Therefore, to get the amount of milliliters for each dose, you need to multiply 15 ml by 2, which gives you 30 ml.

Choice A is wrong because 10 ml is less than 1 tablespoon.

Choice B is wrong because 5 ml is equal to 1 teaspoon, which is one-third of a tablespoon.

Choice C is wrong because 15 ml is equal to 1 tablespoon, which is half of the prescribed dose.