A nurse in an emergency department is assessing a client who was biten on the left leg by a poisonous snake. The client has placed elastic bandages snugly above and below the bite marks and is in no apparent distress. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Remove both of the elastic bandages from the leg.
Discharge the client.
Obtain a prescription for the appropriate anti-venom.
Obtain a prescription for pain medication.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A: Removing the elastic bandages is not recommended. These bandages help slow the spread of venom by compressing the lymphatic vessels. Removing them could worsen the envenomation.
Choice B: This is incorrect. The nurse should not discharge the client, as they may develop serious complications from the snake bite, such as swelling, bleeding, infection, or shock. The client should be monitored closely and treated accordingly.
Choice C: This is the correct action. Antivenom treatment is crucial for serious snake envenomation. The sooner it can be administered, the better the outcome.
Choice D: While pain management is important, it is not the priority in this situation. Antivenom takes precedence over pain medication.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is: A. Elective cardioversion
Choice A reason:
Elective cardioversion is a medical procedure that is used to restore a normal heart rhythm in patients experiencing certain types of arrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia (VT), when they are stable. It involves the delivery of a controlled electric shock to the heart, which is synchronized with the heart's electrical activity to convert the abnormal rhythm back to a normal sinus rhythm. This procedure is typically performed when VT is not causing hemodynamic instability and the patient is not in immediate danger.
Choice B reason:
Defibrillation is an emergency treatment for life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, particularly ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. It involves delivering a high-energy electric shock to the heart unsynchronized to the heart's electrical cycle, aiming to reset the heart's electrical state and allow it to reestablish an effective rhythm. In the scenario provided, where the patient is experiencing VT but not VF, defibrillation would not be the first line of action unless the VT deteriorates into VF or the patient becomes pulseless.
Choice C reason:
CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a lifesaving technique useful in many emergencies, including heart attack or near drowning, in which someone's breathing or heartbeat has stopped. In the case of VT, if the patient is conscious and has a pulse, CPR is not indicated. CPR would only be necessary if the patient's heart stops beating (cardiac arrest) as a result of the VT.
Choice D reason:
Radiofrequency catheter ablation is a procedure used to treat some types of arrhythmias, including VT, by destroying the area of heart tissue that is causing the abnormal heart rhythm. This treatment is generally considered when medication is ineffective or not tolerated, or in recurrent VT. It is not typically the first line of treatment in an acute setting where the patient is stable and experiencing VT.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A Reason: This is correct because the carotid pulse is the most accessible and reliable pulse to check during CPR for an adult client. The carotid pulse is the most accessible and reliable pulse to check during CPR for an adult client. The carotid pulse is located on the side of the neck, near the trachea. The nurse should use two fingers to palpate the carotid pulse for at least 5 seconds and no more than 10 seconds.
Choice B Reason: This is incorrect because the popliteal pulse is located behind the knee and is not easily palpable during CPR.
Choice C Reason: This is incorrect because the radial pulse is located on the wrist and may not be detectable during CPR due to low blood pressure or peripheral vasoconstriction.
Choice D Reason: This is incorrect because the apical pulse is located on the chest and requires a stethoscope to auscultate. The nurse should not interrupt chest compressions or ventilations to listen to the apical pulse during CPR.
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