A nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism that is placed on a continuous heparin infusion. The nurse should notify the health care provider for which of the following findings?

Client develops petechiae on the arms, legs, and abdomen.

Health care provider orders Coumadin 2.5 mg P.O. to begin today.

Client develops slight ecchymosis at the venipuncture site.

Client's partial thromboplastin time (PTT) is 70 seconds and the control is 25-40 seconds.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A. Client develops petechiae on the arms, legs, and abdomen: Petechiae can indicate thrombocytopenia, which may be a complication of heparin therapy but is not an urgent concern unless severe or associated with bleeding.

B. Health care provider orders Coumadin 2.5 mg P.O. to begin today: Coumadin (warfarin) is often initiated as a bridge therapy or overlap with heparin therapy in pulmonary embolism management. This order is not necessarily inappropriate and may be part of the treatment plan.

C. Client develops slight ecchymosis at the venipuncture site: Ecchymosis at the venipuncture site can occur due to minor trauma during the insertion of IV lines or blood draws and is not necessarily indicative of a complication requiring immediate notification of the healthcare provider.

D. Client's partial thromboplastin time (PTT) is 70 seconds and the control is 25-40 seconds: A significantly elevated PTT indicates a potential overdose of heparin, putting the client at risk of bleeding complications. This finding warrants immediate notification of the healthcare provider for further evaluation and possible adjustment of heparin therapy.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. Respond to ventilator alarms: Responding to ventilator alarms is important but may not be the priority if the client is not spontaneously breathing.

B. Report the absence of spontaneous respirations: This is the priority action because the absence of spontaneous respirations may indicate inadequate ventilation or respiratory arrest, requiring immediate intervention.

C. Encourage the client to take spontaneous breaths: While encouraging spontaneous breaths is beneficial, it is not appropriate if the client is paralyzed due to neuromuscular blockade.

D. Place the call bell within reach: Ensuring the call bell is within reach is important for communication but may not be the priority if the client is not breathing spontaneously.

A. Dyspnea B. Malaise C. Fever D. Anorexia

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Dyspnea: Worsening dyspnea may indicate complications such as heart failure or embolization of infectious material to the lungs, which can occur in infective endocarditis as a result of vegetation formation on heart valves. Dyspnea can suggest decreased cardiac output or pulmonary involvement, indicating a worsening condition.

B. Malaise: Malaise is a nonspecific symptom that is common in infective endocarditis due to systemic infection and inflammation. While it can be present in both mild and severe cases, it may not specifically indicate worsening of the condition without other signs of deterioration.

C. Fever: Fever is a hallmark symptom of infective endocarditis and may persist or worsen with progressive infection. However, fever alone may not necessarily indicate worsening if the client is already febrile due to the underlying infection.

D. Anorexia: Anorexia or loss of appetite can occur in infective endocarditis due to systemic illness but may not specifically indicate worsening without other signs of deterioration. It is important to assess for other signs of worsening condition, such as hemodynamic instability or embolic events, in conjunction with anorexia.

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A nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism that is placed on a continuous heparin infusion. The nurse should notify the health care provider for which of the following findings?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

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Correct Answer is B

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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