A client with hyperthyroidism tells the home health nurse, "I stopped taking my antithyroid medication and now I feel anxious. I can feel my heart racing and pounding." Which assessment is most important for the nurse to obtain?

Peripheral pulses.

Vital signs.

Presence of goitre.

Emotional status.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Choice A reason: Assessing peripheral pulses is important for understanding the client's overall circulatory status, but it is not the most urgent assessment in this situation. The client's symptoms suggest a possible thyrotoxic crisis, which requires immediate evaluation of critical vital signs.

Choice B reason: Obtaining vital signs is the most important initial assessment. The client's report of anxiety, heart racing, and pounding could indicate a severe exacerbation of hyperthyroidism, potentially leading to a thyrotoxic crisis (thyroid storm). Vital signs will provide essential information on the client's heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and overall stability, which are crucial for immediate management.

Choice C reason: The presence of a goitre can indicates thyroid gland enlargement, which is relevant for long-term management of hyperthyroidism. However, it does not provide immediate information on the client's current acute condition.

Choice D reason: Assessing emotional status is important for comprehensive care, but it is not the priority in this acute scenario. The client's physiological status needs to be stabilized first, as indicated by their vital signs, before focusing on their emotional state.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason: Crackles or coarse rales are typically associated with fluid in the airways, such as in cases of congestive heart failure or pneumonia, but they do not directly indicate a pleural effusion.

Choice B reason: A pleural friction rub is associated with pleuritis, where the inflamed pleurae rub against each other. It does not indicate decreased air flow in a specific lobe.

Choice C reason: Low pitched, sonorous rhonchi are related to secretions in the larger airways and are not specific to a pleural effusion or decreased air flow in one lobe.

Choice D reason: Diminished breath sounds in the left upper lobe are consistent with a pleural effusion, as the fluid can reduce air flow and sound transmission in that area. This finding directly correlates with the x-ray results showing decreased air flow in the entire left upper lobe.

A. Continue the normal saline IV at 75 mL/hour and encourage increased oral fluid intake. B. Slow the normal saline to a keep open rate while contacting the healthcare provider. C. Review the client's medications to see if the client can be given a PRN diuretic. D. Instruct the client to withhold oral fluids and report the symptoms to the provider.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Continuing the normal saline IV at 75 mL/hour and encouraging increased oral fluid intake is the appropriate action. The client is showing signs of dehydration, such as dry mucous membranes and inelastic skin turgor, indicating a need for more fluids. Ensuring proper hydration through both IV and oral routes is essential.

Choice B reason: Slowing the normal saline to a keep open rate while contacting the healthcare provider is not appropriate in this situation. The client needs more fluids, not less. Reducing the IV rate could exacerbate dehydration.

Choice C reason: Reviewing the client's medications to see if the client can be given a PRN diuretic is not suitable for a client showing signs of dehydration. Diuretics would further decrease fluid volume and worsen the symptoms.

Choice D reason: Instructing the client to withhold oral fluids and report the symptoms to the provider is contrary to managing dehydration. The client needs increased fluid intake to address the signs of dehydration effectively.

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A client with hyperthyroidism tells the home health nurse, "I stopped taking my antithyroid medication and now I feel anxious. I can feel my heart racing and pounding." Which assessment is most important for the nurse to obtain?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The chest x-ray for a client who is admitted for pneumonia shows a pleural effusion with decreased air flow in the entire left upper lobe. After auscultating the left upper lobe, which breath sounds documented by the nurse verify the x-ray findings?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A client who is receiving normal saline IV at 75 mL/hour has dry, sticky mucous membranes, and inelastic skin turgor. Which action should the nurse implement?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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