A home health nurse is planning her daily visits and receives laboratory results for four adult clients. The nurse should first visit the client who has which of the following laboratory values?
Digoxin 1.0 ng/mL.
WBC 6,000/mm³.
Platelets 100,000/mm³.
Serum potassium 4.0 mEq/L.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
Digoxin is a medication used to treat heart conditions like heart failure and atrial fibrillation. A digoxin level of 1.0 ng/mL is within the therapeutic range (usually 0.5-2.0 ng/mL), indicating that the client's digoxin dosage is appropriate. However, this value doesn't indicate an urgent need for a home visit.
Choice B rationale:
A white blood cell count (WBC) of 6,000/mm³ falls within the normal range (typically 4,500-11,000/mm³). While this value could suggest a stable immune system, it doesn't provide information requiring immediate attention or a home visit.
Choice C rationale:
Platelets are essential for blood clotting. A platelet count of 100,000/mm³ is significantly below the normal range (usually 150,000-450,000/mm³), indicating a risk of bleeding and potentially a serious medical condition. This client is at risk for spontaneous bleeding and requires prompt assessment and intervention, making this choice the correct answer.
Choice D rationale:
A serum potassium level of 4.0 mEq/L falls within the normal range (typically 3.5-5.0 mEq/L). While maintaining electrolyte balance is important, this potassium level doesn't indicate an immediate need for a home visit.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
The correct answer is choice B: A client who has a femur fracture and reports feeling short of breath.
Choice A rationale:
A client who has facial drooping following a stroke 8 hours ago (Choice A) is a concern as it may indicate neurological damage; however, a client with a femur fracture experiencing shortness of breath takes priority due to the potential risk of a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening complication.
Choice B rationale:
A client who has a femur fracture and reports feeling short of breath (Choice B) is the priority assessment finding. Shortness of breath in this context raises concern for a possible pulmonary embolism, which is a critical condition that requires immediate intervention.
Choice C rationale:
A client who had an appendectomy 12 hours ago and reports pain as 5 on a scale of 0 to 10 (Choice C) is a valid concern, but it is of lower priority compared to a client with a femur fracture and respiratory distress.
Choice D rationale:
A client who had an open cholecystectomy 4 days ago and has serosanguineous drainage on the wound dressing (Choice D) is a normal postoperative finding and does not require immediate attention. While wound assessment is important, it is not the priority in this scenario.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
The age of the client might influence the care plan and potential complications, but it's not the primary factor for evaluating cost effectiveness. Cost efficiency is more directly related to the resources utilized during the client's stay.
Choice B rationale:
The availability of community support groups contributes to the client's psychosocial well-being and support network, but it doesn't directly assist in evaluating the cost effectiveness of care. This factor focuses more on the quality of life after discharge.
Choice C rationale:
This is the correct choice. The length of the client's stay directly impacts the cost of care. A longer stay involves more resources, medications, and services, leading to increased costs. Evaluating and optimizing the length of stay is a critical aspect of cost-effective care.
Choice D rationale:
The type of insurance the client carries affects their financial responsibility for the care received, but it's not the main consideration for evaluating cost effectiveness. It primarily influences the patient's out-of-pocket expenses rather than the overall cost of care.
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