A male client is admitted to the emergency department while vomiting dark brown, foul- smelling emesis. He reports having a surgical repair of a recurrent inguinal hernia a week ago and is troubled by intense abdominal pain. After finding that his bowel sounds are hyperactive, which prescription should the nurse implement first?

Place an indwelling urinary catheter and attach a bedside drainage unit.

Send the client to x-ray for a flat plate of the abdomen.

Insert a nasogastric tube (NGT) and attach to low intermittent suction.

Give a prescribed analgesic for temperature above 101° F (38.3°C).

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

A.   An indwelling urinary catheter is generally used for monitoring urine output in patients with urinary issues or those who are unable to void. It is not the first-line intervention for a client with symptoms suggesting a possible bowel obstruction or gastrointestinal complication. While monitoring urine output may be important, it does not address the immediate concern of the client’s gastrointestinal symptoms.
B.   An abdominal x-ray can help diagnose conditions such as bowel obstruction, ileus, or other abdominal issues by visualizing the presence of air-fluid levels or distended bowel loops. While this diagnostic step is important, it should follow interventions that might provide immediate symptomatic relief or help manage the suspected condition.
C.   Inserting an NGT and attaching it to low intermittent suction is a critical intervention for managing symptoms of bowel obstruction or severe gastrointestinal distress. The dark brown, foul-smelling vomit and hyperactive bowel sounds suggest that the client might have a bowel obstruction or significant gastrointestinal complication. An NGT can help decompress the stomach, relieve pressure, reduce vomiting, and prevent further gastrointestinal complications.
D.   While providing analgesics for pain and fever is important for overall symptom management, it does not address the immediate cause of the client’s symptoms. The focus should be on diagnosing and managing the underlying issue causing the symptoms, such as a bowel obstruction, rather than just treating pain or fever.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. These symptoms indicate a urinary tract issue but do not necessarily indicate a high risk for injury. While they are uncomfortable, they do not typically lead to physical harm.
B. Azotemia is the build-up of waste products in the blood, and anorexia is a loss of appetite. These symptoms indicate a more severe kidney problem and do not specifically point to an increased risk of injury due to a potential UTI.
C. These symptoms suggest kidney involvement but do not necessarily indicate an imminent risk of injury. While they are important to address, they do not warrant the nursing problem of "high risk for injury due to potential urinary tract infection."

D. Fever and dysuria are classic symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI). A UTI can progress to a more serious infection, such as pyelonephritis, which can lead to sepsis and potentially life-threatening complications. Therefore, these symptoms indicate a high risk for injury due to the potential for a UTI to worsen.

A. Ask the client to rate her pain on a scale from 0 to 10. B. Teach the client to keep the leg elevated C. Treat with ice then apply an elastic bandage wrap. D. Check the leg for warmth and erythema.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. While pain assessment is important, it's not the priority in this situation. Pain can be present in various conditions, and it doesn't necessarily indicate DVT.
B. Elevating the leg can help reduce swelling but is not the initial action. The nurse needs to rule out a serious condition like DVT first.
C. Applying ice and an elastic bandage might be appropriate for some types of swelling but is not the correct initial action for a sudden, unilateral leg swelling.
D. The client presents with sudden, unilateral leg swelling, which is a red flag for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a serious condition that can lead to pulmonary embolism. Therefore, the nurse's priority is to assess for signs of inflammation, which are warmth and erythema.

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is evaluating a client's symptoms, and formulates the nursing problem, "High risk for injury due to potential urinary tract infection." Which symptoms indicate the need for this nursing problem?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

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