A nurse on a surgical unit is caring for a group of clients. Which of the following is the priority action of the nurse?
Assessing a client who experiences unilateral calf pain when ambulating
Reassuring the partner of a client who sustained a closed head injury
Taking a telephone prescription about a client who is to be transferred from PACU
Reinforcing a client’s dressing for the surgical site of an above the knee amputation
The Correct Answer is A
A. Assessing a client who experiences unilateral calf pain when ambulating.
Unilateral calf pain in a client who is ambulating can be indicative of a potential deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a serious condition that requires prompt assessment and intervention. DVTs are a risk after surgery, and early detection is crucial to prevent complications such as a pulmonary embolism. Assessing the client experiencing calf pain is the priority to determine the cause and initiate appropriate interventions.
B. Reassuring the partner of a client who sustained a closed head injury:
While providing support and reassurance to family members is important, it is not as urgent as assessing a client with potential signs of a DVT.
C. Taking a telephone prescription about a client who is to be transferred from PACU:
While obtaining and implementing orders in a timely manner is important, assessing and addressing a potential DVT takes precedence due to the immediate risk to the client's well-being.
D. Reinforcing a client’s dressing for the surgical site of an above-the-knee amputation:
Dressing reinforcement is important for wound care, but it is not as urgently needed as assessing a client with possible signs of a DVT. The assessment of calf pain takes priority.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. A client who is taking a thiazide diuretic:
Thiazide diuretics can cause loss of potassium and metabolic alkalosis, not metabolic acidosis.
B. A client who is vomiting:
Vomiting can lead to the loss of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) and may result in metabolic alkalosis, not metabolic acidosis.
C. A client who has diarrhea.
Diarrhea can lead to the loss of bicarbonate, an important buffer in the body that helps maintain acid-base balance. The loss of bicarbonate in diarrhea can result in an excess of acid, contributing to metabolic acidosis.
D. A client who is having an acute anxiety attack:
Acute anxiety is not typically associated with metabolic acidosis. It is not directly related to changes in acid-base balance.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Place the client in a private room with a special ventilation system.
The primary method to prevent the transmission of tuberculosis is to place the client in a negative pressure room with adequate ventilation. This helps to reduce the risk of airborne transmission of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria.
B. Modify the protocol for donning and removing personal protective equipment before entering or leaving the client’s room:
Standard precautions should be followed, but the primary emphasis is on airborne precautions due to the potential for airborne transmission of TB. Modifications to donning and removing PPE are not the main focus.
C. Have staff and visitors wear gowns, masks, and gloves while in the client’s room:
Airborne precautions are more specific for suspected active tuberculosis. While gowns, masks, and gloves may be used for other infectious diseases, the key precaution for TB is a private room with negative pressure ventilation.
D. Assign the client to a room with other clients who require droplet precautions:
Tuberculosis is primarily transmitted through airborne particles, not droplets. Placing the client in a room with droplet precautions is not sufficient to prevent the spread of tuberculosis.
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