A nurse in a critical care unit is caring for a client who suﬀered a knife wound to the chest. The nurse suspects the client is developing cardiac tamponade. Which of the following assessment findings should the nurse identify as supporting this suspicion?

Flatened neck veins.

Bradycardia.

Sudden lethargy.

Muﬄed heart sounds.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A Reason: This choice is incorrect because ﬂatened neck veins are not a sign of cardiac tamponade. Cardiac tamponade is a condition in which ﬂuid accumulates in the pericardial sac that surrounds the heart, causing compression and impaired filling of the heart chambers. This leads to reduced cardiac output and hypotension. One of the manifestations of cardiac tamponade is distended neck veins due to increased venous pressure and impaired venous return.

Choice B Reason: This choice is incorrect because bradycardia is not a sign of cardiac tamponade. Bradycardia is a condition in which the heart rate is slower than normal (less than 60 beats per minute). It may be caused by various factors such as vagal stimulation, medication side eﬀects, hypothyroidism, or sinus node dysfunction. It may cause symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, or syncope, but it does not indicate cardiac tamponade.

Choice C Reason: This choice is incorrect because sudden lethargy is not a specific sign of cardiac tamponade. Lethargy is a condition in which the person feels tired, sluggish, or drowsy. It may be caused by various factors such as sleep deprivation, depression, infection, anemia, or hypoglycemia. It may aﬀect the person's mental and physical performance, but it does not indicate cardiac tamponade.

Choice D Reason: This choice is correct because muﬄed heart sounds are a sign of cardiac tamponade. Muﬄed heart sounds are heart sounds that are fainter or softer than normal due to reduced transmission of sound waves through ﬂuid-filled pericardial sac. They may indicate that the heart function is compromised by cardiac tamponade and require immediate intervention such as pericardiocentesis (removal of ﬂuid from pericardial sac).

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A Reason: This is incorrect because cognitive impairment that decreases over several months post-injury is more likely to occur in a client who has a diﬀuse axonal injury, which is a widespread damage to the brain's white mater.

Choice B Reason: This is incorrect because neurologic deficits that increase up to 2 weeks post-injury are more likely to occur in a client who has a subdural hematoma, which is a collection of blood between the dura and the arachnoid membranes.

Choice C Reason: This is incorrect because a change in the level of consciousness that develops over 48 hr is more likely to occur in a client who has an intracerebral hematoma, which is a collection of blood within the brain tissue.

Choice D Reason: This is correct because a lucid period followed by an immediate loss of consciousness is a typical manifestation of an epidural hematoma, which is a collection of blood between the skull and the dura. The lucid period occurs when the initial bleeding stops and the client regains consciousness. The immediate loss of consciousness occurs when the bleeding resumes and causes increased intracranial pressure.

A. Dextrose 5% in 0.9% sodium chloride B. Dextrose 5% in water C. 0.9% sodium chloride D. Lactated Ringer's

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A Reason: This is incorrect because dextrose 5% in 0.9% sodium chloride is a hypertonic solution that can cause ﬂuid overload and pulmonary edema in a client who has burns.

Choice B Reason: This is incorrect because dextrose 5% in water is a hypotonic solution that can cause ﬂuid shifts from the intravascular space to the interstitial space, resulting in hypovolemia and hypotension in a client who has burns.

Choice C Reason: This is incorrect because 0.9% sodium chloride is an isotonic solution that can cause hypernatremia and hyperchloremia in a client who has burns, as the ﬂuid loss from burns is greater than the sodium loss.

Choice D Reason: This is correct because lactated Ringer's is an isotonic solution that contains electrolytes similar to plasma, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride. It also contains lactate, which is converted to bicarbonate in the liver and helps correct the metabolic acidosis that occurs in a client who has burns.

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A nurse in a critical care unit is caring for a client who suﬀered a knife wound to the chest. The nurse suspects the client is developing cardiac tamponade. Which of the following assessment findings should the nurse identify as supporting this suspicion?

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

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