A nurse is assessing a client’s circulatory system. Which of the following pulse sites should the nurse avoid assessing bilaterally at the same time?
Carotid
Brachial
Popliteal
Femoral
The Correct Answer is A
A. Carotid
The nurse should avoid assessing the carotid pulses bilaterally at the same time. The carotid arteries are major blood vessels supplying the head and neck with oxygenated blood. Simultaneously assessing both carotid pulses could potentially compromise blood flow to the brain, leading to a decrease in cerebral perfusion. This is particularly important in individuals with a history of cerebrovascular disease or other conditions affecting blood flow to the brain.
B. Brachial:
Assessing the brachial pulses bilaterally at the same time is generally acceptable. The brachial pulses are located in the upper arms.
C. Popliteal:
Assessing the popliteal pulses bilaterally at the same time is generally acceptable. The popliteal pulses are located behind the knee.
D. Femoral:
Assessing the femoral pulses bilaterally at the same time is generally acceptable. The femoral pulses are located in the groin area.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Correct Answer: C
C. The provider was notified.The nurse should document objective facts, such as notifying the provider, in the client’s medical record. This ensures accurate communication about the client's condition and the steps taken after the fall.
Incorrect answers:
A."An incident report was completed."The completion of an incident report should not be documented in the medical record. Incident reports are internal documents used for quality improvement and risk management, and mentioning them in the medical record could make them discoverable in legal proceedings.
B."There were no injuries sustained."While documenting the client’s physical condition is appropriate, stating "no injuries sustained" might be premature or subjective. Instead, the nurse should record specific observations, such as "client denies pain" or "no visible signs of injury noted."
D."An incident report was forwarded to risk management.Referencing the incident report in the medical record is inappropriate. Incident reports are separate from the client’s medical record and should not be mentioned in the documentation.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Check temperature and SPO2
When the nurse finds an adult patient's pulse rate to be 140 beats per minute, it is important to assess other vital signs, particularly temperature and oxygen saturation (SPO2). This helps gather additional information to understand the overall clinical picture and assess for potential underlying causes of the elevated heart rate.
B. Report the rate to the primary care provider:
Reporting the heart rate to the primary care provider may be necessary, but it should not be the immediate action. Assessing other vital signs first provides a more comprehensive understanding.
C. Check the pulse again in 2 hours:
Waiting for 2 hours to recheck the pulse is not appropriate when the heart rate is significantly elevated. Immediate action and further assessment are needed.
D. Record the information:
Recording the elevated heart rate is part of documentation, but it should be accompanied by a more comprehensive assessment of vital signs and potential contributing factors.
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