A nurse is assessing a client who has a heart rate of 56/min.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

The correct answer is to select the following three findings that require immediate follow-up:C. Urticaria,D. Blood pressure at 1630, andE. Report of dysphagia.

Choice A rationale:

“Breath sounds at 1600.” The breath sounds at 1600 were clear and present throughout, which is a normal finding and does not require immediate follow-up.

Choice B rationale:

“Temperature.” The temperature readings at both 1600 and 1630 are slightly elevated but not critically high. This does not require immediate follow-up compared to the other findings.

Choice C rationale:

“Urticaria.” The presence of urticaria (hives) indicates an allergic reaction, which can potentially escalate to a more severe reaction such as anaphylaxis.Immediate follow-up is necessary to prevent further complications.

Choice D rationale:

“Blood pressure at 1630.” The blood pressure at 1630 is significantly lower (78/52 mm Hg) compared to the earlier reading (110/58 mm Hg).This hypotension could indicate a serious reaction to the medication or another underlying issue that requires prompt attention.

Choice E rationale:

“Report of dysphagia.” The client’s report of difficulty swallowing and feeling a lump in their throat is concerning for a potential airway obstruction or severe allergic reaction, such as anaphylaxis.This symptom requires immediate follow-up to ensure the client’s airway remains open and to provide necessary interventions.

Choice A rationale:

Charting by exception (CBE) is a documentation method in which the nurse documents only unexpected findings or significant deviations from the client's normal condition. It is based on the assumption that the client's baseline status remains within the expected range, and deviations from this norm are documented. CBE is efficient and allows nurses to focus on relevant and critical information, reducing unnecessary documentation. It is particularly useful in clinical settings where frequent assessments are needed.

Choice B rationale:

Focus charting (DAR) is another method of documenting client care that emphasizes a structured approach to documentation, with a focus on data, action, and response (DAR). While it provides a systematic way to document care, it does not necessarily limit documentation to only unexpected findings. Focus charting encourages documentation of care in a problem-oriented manner, which may include expected or routine assessments.

Choice C rationale:

Problem-oriented medical record (POMR) is a documentation system that focuses on organizing client information around specific healthcare problems or diagnoses. It encourages a problem-solving approach to care and promotes the inclusion of a comprehensive client history and care plan. POMR documentation may involve both expected and unexpected findings, so it does not limit documentation to only unexpected findings.

Choice D rationale:

SOAP documentation stands for Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan. It is a structured method of documenting healthcare encounters. SOAP notes include a wide range of information, including both subjective (patient's description of symptoms) and objective (clinician's observations) data. While SOAP notes are organized, they do not specifically limit documentation to only unexpected findings.