A nurse is caring for a client who is admitted to the medical-surgical unit. Client reports, "I'm bloated and my stomach hurts."
The nurse reviews the client's laboratory findings and vital signs.
Select the 5 findings that require immediate follow-up.
Heart rate.
Current medications.
Blood pressure.
Stool results.
Respiratory rate.
WBC count.
Temperature.
Hemoglobin and hematocrit.
Correct Answer : A,B,C,D,H
A, B, C, D, and H. Here is why:.
- A. Heart rate: The client’s heart rate is elevated at 118/min, which could indicate blood loss, dehydration, pain, anxiety, or infection. This finding requires immediate follow-up to assess the cause and intervene as needed.
- B. Current medications: The client is taking ibuprofen 800 mg three times daily PRN for arthritis pain. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can cause gastric irritation, ulceration, and bleeding. This finding requires immediate follow-up to evaluate the client’s pain level, medication use, and possible alternatives to NSAIDs.
- C. Blood pressure: The client’s blood pressure is low at 90/50 mm Hg, which could indicate hypovolemia, shock, or cardiac dysfunction. This finding requires immediate follow-up to monitor the client’s fluid status, perfusion, and organ function.
- D. Stool results: The client’s stool tested positive for occult blood and H. pylori bacteria. Occult blood indicates gastrointestinal bleeding, which could be related to the client’s abdominal pain and weight loss. H. pylori is a common cause of peptic ulcer disease, which can also cause bleeding and pain. This finding requires immediate follow-up to confirm the diagnosis and initiate treatment with antibiotics and acid-suppressing drugs.
- H. Hemoglobin and hematocrit: The client’s hemoglobin and hematocrit are low at 9.1 g/dL and 27%, respectively. These values indicate anemia, which could be caused by chronic blood loss, nutritional deficiency, or bone marrow suppression. This finding requires immediate follow-up to determine the etiology and severity of the anemia and provide appropriate therapy such as blood transfusion, iron supplementation, or erythropoietin.
The other findings are not as urgent as the ones above:.
- E. Respiratory rate: The client’s respiratory rate is normal at 18/min. There is no evidence of respiratory distress or hypoxia.
- F. WBC count: The client’s WBC count is normal at 6,700/mm3. There is no indication of infection or inflammation.
- G. Temperature: The client’s temperature is slightly elevated at 37.5° C (99.5° F), but not enough to warrant immediate concern. It could be due to stress, dehydration, or a mild infection. The nurse should monitor the temperature trend and report any significant changes or signs of sepsis.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"C","dropdown-group-2":"C"}
Explanation
The nurse should first administer oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula because the client has signs of hypoxemia (low oxygen saturation) and respiratory distress (increased respiratory rate) that may worsen the chest pain and myocardial ischemia. Oxygen therapy can help improve oxygen delivery to the heart muscle and reduce the workload of the heart.
The nurse should then administer sublingual nitroglycerin as prescribed because nitroglycerin is a vasodilator that can help relieve chest pain by dilating the coronary arteries and improving blood flow to the heart. Nitroglycerin can also lower blood pressure and reduce cardiac preload and afterload, which can decrease myocardial oxygen demand.
Other choices:
• Prepare the client for cardiac catheterization: This may be a later intervention if the chest pain persists or if the client has a confirmed myocardial infarction, but it is not the first priority for the nurse. Cardiac catheterization is an invasive procedure that involves inserting a catheter into a large artery and advancing it to the coronary arteries to visualize any blockages or stenosis. The procedure may also involve angioplasty or stent placement to restore blood flow to the affected area.
• Request a prescription for an increase in statin: This may be a long-term intervention to lower the client’s LDL cholesterol and prevent further plaque formation in the coronary arteries, but it is not an immediate intervention for chest pain. Statins are lipid-lowering drugs that can reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in clients with CAD, but they do not have a direct effect on chest pain or myocardial ischemia.
• Check a STAT cardiac troponin: This may be a diagnostic test to confirm or rule out a myocardial infarction, but it is not an intervention for chest pain. Cardiac troponin is a protein that is released into the bloodstream when there is damage to the heart muscle. Elevated levels of cardiac troponin indicate a myocardial infarction or other cardiac injury.
• Request a prescription for a beta-blocker: This may be an adjunctive therapy to reduce chest pain and prevent complications, but it is not the first-line intervention for chest pain. Beta-blockers are drugs that block the effects of adrenaline on the heart and blood vessels, which can lower heart rate, blood pressure, and myocardial oxygen demand. Beta-blockers can also prevent arrhythmias and reduce mortality in clients with CAD.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The correct answer is choice C. Holding the client’s eyes shut for a few seconds.
This is because the eyes of a deceased client do not close naturally and may remain open after death. Holding them shut for a few seconds helps to keep them closed and prevent drying of the corneas.
This also gives a more peaceful appearance to the client’s body for the family visit.
Choice A is wrong because crossing the client’s arms across their chest is not a standard postmortem care procedure. It may also interfere with the placement of identification tags on the wrists.
Choice B is wrong because placing the client in a high-Fowler’s position is not necessary or appropriate for postmortem care. The client should be placed in a supine position with the head of the bed elevated to prevent livor mortis (purple discoloration of the skin) on the face.
Choice D is wrong because removing the client’s dentures from their mouth is not recommended for postmortem care. The dentures should be left in place to maintain the shape of the face and prevent the jaw from dropping.
Normal ranges are not applicable for this question as it does not involve any physiological measurements.
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