A nurse on a medical unit is planning care for a group of clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse attend to first?
A client who has multiple sclerosis and reports ataxia and vertigo
A client who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and an oxygen saturation of 89%
A client who has left-sided paralysis and slurred speech from a prior stroke
A client who has thrombocytopenia and reports a nosebleed
The Correct Answer is D
The nurse should attend to the client who has thrombocytopenia and reports a nosebleed first, as this client has the most urgent problem and is at risk of hemorrhage. Thrombocytopenia is a condition characterized by a low platelet count, which impairs blood clotting and increases bleeding tendencies. The other clients have chronic or stable conditions that require ongoing monitoring and intervention, but are not as urgent as the client with the nosebleed.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Referred pain is pain that is felt in a location different from its source due to shared nerve pathways or central nervous system processing. A client who has pancreatitis may experience pain in the left shoulder due to irritation of the diaphragm by pancreatic enzymes or inflammation. This pain is referred from the abdominal cavity to the shoulder through the phrenic nerve.
A client who has peritonitis reports generalized abdominal pain that corresponds to the site of inflammation and infection in the peritoneum. A client who has angina reports substernal chest pain that reflects the ischemia and hypoxia of the myocardium. A client who is postoperative reports incisional pain that is caused by tissue damage and inflammation at the surgical site.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Altered level of consciousness (LOC) is the earliest and most sensitive indicator of increased ICP, which can result from brain injury, tumor, hemorrhage, infection, or edema.
The nurse should monitor the client's LOC using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and report any changes or deterioration to the provider. Pupillary dilation, decorticate posturing, and Cheyne-Stokes respirations are later signs of increased ICP that indicate brainstem compression and herniation, which are life-threatening emergencies.
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