A nurse is caring for four clients. Which of the following assessment findings is the priority?

A client who has facial drooping following a stroke 8 hours ago.

A client who has a femur fracture and reports feeling short of breath.

A client who had an appendectomy 12 hours ago and reports pain as 5 on a scale of 0 to 10.

A client who had an open cholecystectomy 4 days ago and has serosanguineous drainage on the wound dressing.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

The correct answer is choice B: A client who has a femur fracture and reports feeling short of breath.

Choice A rationale:

A client who has facial drooping following a stroke 8 hours ago (Choice A) is a concern as it may indicate neurological damage; however, a client with a femur fracture experiencing shortness of breath takes priority due to the potential risk of a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening complication.

Choice B rationale:

A client who has a femur fracture and reports feeling short of breath (Choice B) is the priority assessment finding. Shortness of breath in this context raises concern for a possible pulmonary embolism, which is a critical condition that requires immediate intervention.

Choice C rationale:

A client who had an appendectomy 12 hours ago and reports pain as 5 on a scale of 0 to 10 (Choice C) is a valid concern, but it is of lower priority compared to a client with a femur fracture and respiratory distress.

Choice D rationale:

A client who had an open cholecystectomy 4 days ago and has serosanguineous drainage on the wound dressing (Choice D) is a normal postoperative finding and does not require immediate attention. While wound assessment is important, it is not the priority in this scenario.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The correct answer isChoice A: Place the client in a dorsal recumbent position for the examination.

Choice A rationale:

The dorsal recumbent position, where the client lies on their back with knees bent and feet flat on the bed, is ideal for abdominal assessments.This position helps relax the abdominal muscles, making it easier to palpate and auscultate the abdomen.

Choice B rationale:

Auscultating for vascular bruits should be done with the bell of the stethoscope, not the diaphragm.The bell is more sensitive to low-frequency sounds like bruits.

Choice C rationale:

The assessment should begin with inspection and auscultation before palpation.Palpation can alter bowel sounds, leading to inaccurate findings.

Choice D rationale:

The client should have an empty bladder before the assessment to avoid discomfort and ensure accurate findings.

A. Auscultate the client's bowel sounds. B. Measure the client's temperature. C. Check the client's urine specific gravity. D. Obtain the client's serum potassium level.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

The correct answer is choice D.

Choice A rationale:

“Auscultate the client’s bowel sounds.” While auscultating bowel sounds can provide information about the client’s gastrointestinal function, it is not the priority assessment for a client who has been vomiting and experiencing diarrhea for the past 6 hours.

Choice B rationale:

“Measure the client’s temperature.” Measuring the client’s temperature can help identify if the client has an infection, which could be causing the vomiting and diarrhea. However, it is not the priority assessment in this situation.

Choice C rationale:

“Check the client’s urine specific gravity.” Checking the client’s urine specific gravity can provide information about the client’s hydration status. However, it is not the priority assessment for a client who has been vomiting and experiencing diarrhea for the past 6 hours.

Choice D rationale:

“Obtain the client’s serum potassium level.” This is the correct answer. Prolonged vomiting and diarrhea can lead to significant loss of electrolytes, including potassium. A low potassium level (hypokalemia) can have serious effects, including cardiac arrhythmias. Therefore, obtaining the client’s serum potassium level is the priority assessment.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A nurse is caring for four clients. Which of the following assessment findings is the priority?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A charge nurse is preparing to observe a newly licensed nurse perform a routine abdominal assessment. Which of the following actions should the charge nurse expect the newly licensed nurse to take?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client who reports vomiting and diarrhea for the past 6 hours. The nurse should identify that which of the following assessments is the priority?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse receives notification of a fire on the unit. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A nurse is caring for a client who is recovering from a stroke. The provider recommends an extracranial-intracranial bypass, but the client tells the nurse that he will not have the surgery. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A nurse is caring for a 19-year-old client who has just been informed that their cancer has metastasized. The client tells the nurse that they do not want to continue chemotherapy. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

A nurse asks a newly hired assistive personnel (AP) to remove a client's indwelling urinary catheter. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to ensure the AP is qualified to perform this task?

A nurse is caring for a client who is terminally ill and receiving nutritional support. The client's adult children disagree about continuing nutritional support. The dilemma is referred to the ethics committee. Which of the following actions should the nurse expect the committee to take?

A nurse manager is planning an in-service for a group of nurses about caring for clients following stem cell transplants. Which of the following instructions should the nurse manager include in the teaching?

A charge nurse is observing a newly licensed nurse who is caring for a client who has pulmonary tuberculosis. The charge nurse should expect the newly licensed nurse to take which of the following actions?

Two nurses on a unit each contend that the other is not doing a fair share of work. The conflict is affecting the functioning of the unit. A charge nurse should approach this conflict in which of the following ways?