A client who is confined to a wheelchair as a result of a motorcycle accident is unable to feel pain or pressure from the waist down. Which finding provides the nurse with the earliest indication that the client is developing a pressure ulcer?
Thick, dry, and dark area on bilateral heels.
Broken skin without evidence of undermining.
Defined area of persistent redness over bone.
Superficial sacral ulcer with defined margins.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A reason: A thick, dry, and dark area on bilateral heels may indicate the beginning stages of a pressure ulcer, but it is not the earliest sign. The earliest indication is usually a non-blanchable redness over a bony prominence.
Choice B reason: Broken skin without evidence of undermining could be a sign of a pressure ulcer, but it is not the earliest indication. The earliest sign is persistent redness over an area of pressure.
Choice C reason: A defined area of persistent redness over bone, especially if it does not blanch when pressed, is the earliest indication of a pressure ulcer. This stage is known as a Stage 1 pressure injury.
Choice D reason: A superficial sacral ulcer with defined margins indicates that a pressure ulcer has already developed and is not the earliest sign of its development.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","E"]
Explanation
The correct answer is: A. Teach the client to use an incentive spirometer every 2 hours while awake and E. Remove the urinary catheter as soon as possible and encourage voiding.
Choice A reason:
Teaching the client to use an incentive spirometer every 2 hours while awake helps prevent postoperative pulmonary complications such as pneumonia. This intervention promotes lung expansion and clears secretions, reducing the risk of infection.
Choice B reason:
Administering low molecular weight heparin as prescribed is important for preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism, but it does not directly reduce the risk of infection.
Choice C reason:
Assessing the pain level and medicating as needed is crucial for patient comfort and mobility, but it does not directly address infection prevention. Effective pain management can indirectly support recovery by enabling better mobility and respiratory function.
Choice D reason:
Maintaining sequential compression devices while in bed is aimed at preventing DVT, not infections. These devices help improve blood circulation and reduce the risk of blood clots.
Choice E reason:
Removing the urinary catheter as soon as possible and encouraging voiding reduces the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). Prompt removal of the catheter minimizes the duration of exposure to potential pathogens, thereby reducing infection risk.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Asking the client to describe the pain is essential as it provides subjective information about the pain's quality, intensity, and impact on daily activities, which is crucial for assessing osteoarthritis pain.
Choice B reason: Observing body language and movement can offer insights into the pain's impact on function, but it does not replace the client's verbal description of the pain experience.
Choice C reason: Identifying effective pain relief measures is part of managing osteoarthritis but does not directly assess the quality of the client's knee pain.
Choice D reason: Providing a numeric pain scale is a method to quantify pain intensity but may not fully capture the quality or characteristics of the pain.

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