A nurse is assessing a patient's bilateral pulses for symmetry. Which pulse site should not be assessed on both sides of the body at the same time?
Carotid
Radial
Brachial
Femoral
The Correct Answer is A
A. Carotid. The carotid arteries supply blood to the brain, and compressing both simultaneously can reduce cerebral blood flow, potentially causing dizziness, syncope, or loss of consciousness. Therefore, carotid pulses should be assessed one at a time.
B. Radial. The radial pulse can be safely assessed bilaterally at the same time since it does not affect central circulation or brain perfusion.
C. Brachial. The brachial pulse can also be assessed bilaterally without risk, as it does not impact blood flow to critical organs like the brain.
D. Femoral. The femoral pulse can be checked simultaneously on both sides to assess circulation and perfusion, especially in cases of suspected arterial insufficiency.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Body temperature follows a circadian rhythm, typically being lowest in the early morning (around 4–6 AM) and peaking in the late afternoon or evening.
B. Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, which increases metabolic activity and raises body temperature rather than lowering it.
C. Physical activity generates heat, leading to an increase in body temperature, not a decrease.
D. While some surgical preparations involve cooling the patient, body temperature is not naturally lower before surgery. Instead, preoperative anxiety may even cause a slight increase in temperature.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Remove fans to prevent premature chilling. While preventing rapid cooling is important in some cases, this action is not the priority. The patient’s symptoms suggest heat-related illness, which requires immediate assessment.
B. Apply a hyperthermia blanket to lower temperature slowly. Hyperthermia blankets are typically used in controlled environments for gradual cooling, but first, the patient’s temperature must be assessed to determine the severity of heat-related illness.
C. Take the patient's temperature and vital signs. Confusion and muscle cramps after working in heat suggest possible heat exhaustion or heatstroke, which can be life-threatening. Assessing temperature and vital signs is the priority to determine the severity and guide further treatment.
D. Place the patient in a tub of iced water. Ice water immersion is appropriate for severe heatstroke with a dangerously high core temperature, but cooling measures should only be initiated after confirming hyperthermia with a temperature assessment.
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