A nurse is caring for a client who is 24 hr postpartum. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
WBC count 12,000/mm3 (5,000 to 10,000/mm3)
Temperature 37.8° C (100° F)
Respiratory rate 16/min
Hgb 8 g/dL (less than 11 g/dL)
The Correct Answer is D
A. WBC count 12,000/mm³: A mild elevation in white blood cell count is expected within the first few days postpartum as part of the normal inflammatory response due to the stress of labor and delivery.. A count of 12,000/mm³ is not alarming and does not necessarily indicate infection or a complication.
B. Temperature 37.8°C (100°F): A low-grade temperature elevation within the first 24 hours postpartum is common due to hormonal shifts, dehydration, or exertion from labor. This finding would not immediately require provider notification unless it persists or rises higher.
C. Respiratory rate 16/min: A respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute is within normal adult limits and does not suggest respiratory distress or any postpartum complication, so no intervention is required for this finding.
D. Hgb 8 g/dL: A hemoglobin level of 8 g/dL is significantly low and can indicate postpartum hemorrhage or significant blood loss. This degree of anemia should be reported promptly to the provider to assess the need for interventions such as blood transfusion or iron supplementation.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Reviewing client education: Reviewing education is often part of the termination phase, where teaching is reinforced and the nurse ensures the client understands care plans after the therapeutic relationship ends. It is not a primary focus during the working phase.
B. Identifying problem-solving skills: The working phase focuses on active problem-solving, setting goals, and implementing strategies to address the client's issues. This is when trust is established further, and the nurse and client collaborate on interventions and coping techniques to promote positive outcomes.
C. Summarizing the goals and objectives achieved: Summarizing achievements is part of the termination phase, when the nurse and client reflect on progress made. It helps bring closure to the relationship but does not belong to the working phase where the focus is still on active progress.
D. Specifying a contract: Specifying a contract is a task of the orientation phase, where the structure of the nurse-client relationship, roles, and expectations are defined. This lays the foundation before entering into the problem-solving focus of the working phase.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Clay-colored stools: Clay-colored stools indicate a lack of bile flow due to liver dysfunction, which is expected in cirrhosis. While concerning, it is not the most urgent finding compared to signs indicating acute neurological compromise.
B. Confusion: Confusion suggests hepatic encephalopathy, a serious complication of cirrhosis resulting from the buildup of toxins like ammonia in the bloodstream. It indicates potential cerebral impairment and requires immediate provider notification and intervention to prevent progression to coma.
C. Spider angiomas: Spider angiomas are small, dilated blood vessels visible on the skin, commonly seen in cirrhosis due to hormonal changes and altered vascular dynamics. They are a chronic sign of liver disease and do not represent an immediate threat.
D. Jaundice: Jaundice results from elevated bilirubin levels due to impaired liver function. While jaundice signals worsening liver disease, it develops gradually and is less immediately life-threatening than the onset of neurological symptoms like confusion.
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