A nurse in an emergency department is receiving report for four clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse see first?
A client who has heart failure and received a diuretic 30 min ago
A client who has hypertension and reports a severe headache
A client who reports frequent and painful urination
A client who reports left arm pain following a fall
The Correct Answer is B
Rationale:
A. A client who has heart failure and received a diuretic 30 min ago: While this client should be monitored for urine output and signs of dehydration or electrolyte imbalance, there is no indication of acute distress requiring immediate attention.
B. A client who has hypertension and reports a severe headache: This could indicate a hypertensive crisis or impending stroke, both of which are life-threatening and require urgent assessment and intervention to prevent neurological damage or organ failure.
C. A client who reports frequent and painful urination: These are signs of a urinary tract infection, which, while uncomfortable, is not typically emergent unless accompanied by fever, flank pain, or systemic symptoms.
D. A client who reports left arm pain following a fall: The arm pain may indicate a fracture, but it is less urgent than potential end-organ damage from a hypertensive emergency, assuming no deformity or vascular compromise is described.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Compare a list of common medications to treat a condition to the actual prescriptions: This approach does not meet the definition of medication reconciliation, which focuses on comparing the client’s actual prior medications to new orders to prevent errors.
B. Compare the prescription to the allergy history of the client: While this is an important safety check, it is not the primary purpose of medication reconciliation. Allergy review is a separate step done for every prescribed medication, not specifically during reconciliation.
C. Compare the medication label to the provider's prescription on three occasions before administration: This is part of the "three checks" of medication administration to ensure accuracy and safety, but it is unrelated to the reconciliation process that occurs during admission, transfer, or discharge.
D. Compare the client's list of home medications to the admission prescriptions written for the client: This is the central process in medication reconciliation. It ensures continuity of care, prevents omissions, duplications, or interactions, and identifies changes that need clarification.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Tenting skin turgor: Tenting indicates dehydration or fluid volume deficit, not overload. It reflects reduced skin elasticity due to poor interstitial fluid volume.
B. Respiratory rate 30/min: Tachypnea can result from pulmonary congestion or edema due to excess fluid in the intravascular space. It is a classic sign of fluid overload as the lungs struggle with impaired gas exchange.
C. Skin warm and dry: Warm, dry skin is a normal finding and does not suggest volume overload. Fluid retention typically causes edema or moist skin in severe cases.
D. Heart rate 60/min: A heart rate within normal range does not point to fluid overload. Often, fluid overload is associated with tachycardia due to increased preload and compensatory responses.
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