A patient is exhibiting an altered level of consciousness and is unresponsive to verbal stimuli. To elicit a response from a painful stimulus, the nurse would:

Press down on the orbital area of the eye.

Pinch the trapezius muscle.

Use a 25-gauge needle.

Elicit a reflex with a reflex hammer.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Choice A reason: Pressing down on the orbital area of the eye, known as the oculocephalic reflex or 'doll's eye' maneuver, is a method used to assess brainstem function in an unresponsive patient. However, this should be done with caution and is generally avoided if there is a suspicion of a neck injury or increased intracranial pressure.

Choice B reason: Pinching the trapezius muscle is a common method to elicit a response to painful stimuli. It is considered a less invasive and safer initial approach to assess the patient's response to pain without causing harm.

Choice C reason: Using a 25-gauge needle to elicit a response is not a standard practice and can be harmful. It poses a risk of skin puncture and infection, and it is not an appropriate method for assessing a patient's level of consciousness.

Choice D reason: Eliciting a reflex with a reflex hammer is used to assess the deep tendon reflexes, which can provide information about the integrity of the nervous system. However, it is not typically used as a method to elicit a response to painful stimuli in an unresponsive patient.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Hypotension, or low blood pressure, is not typically associated with thyroid storm. Thyroid storm is a life-threatening condition that often presents with hypertensive crisis due to the excessive amount of thyroid hormones accelerating the body's metabolism.

Choice B reason: Increased temperature is a hallmark sign of thyroid storm. Patients experiencing a thyroid storm can have a high fever, with temperatures ranging from 104°F to 106°F. This is due to the hypermetabolic state induced by excessive thyroid hormones, which increases the body's heat production.

Choice C reason: Lethargy is not a common symptom of thyroid storm. Instead, patients may experience agitation, irritability, and anxiety due to the overstimulation of the nervous system by excessive thyroid hormones. Lethargy might be observed in hypothyroidism, which is the opposite condition.

Choice D reason: A decreased heart rate is not characteristic of thyroid storm. On the contrary, tachycardia, or a rapid heart rate, is a common symptom. The heart rate can exceed 140 beats per minute as the body's demand for oxygen increases due to the hypermetabolic state.

A. "I will draw the regular insulin into the syringe first." B. "I will store prefilled syringes in the refrigerator with the needle pointed upward." C. "I will gently roll the NPH vial between my hands before drawing up the insulin." D. "I will insert the needle at a 90-degree angle." E. None F. None

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Drawing the regular insulin into the syringe first is correct. When mixing two types of insulin, the clear (regular) insulin should be drawn up before the cloudy (NPH) insulin to prevent contamination.

Choice B reason: Storing prefilled syringes with the needle pointed upward can cause air bubbles to move into the insulin, which can alter the dose when injected. The needle should be pointed downward.

Choice C reason: Shaking the NPH vial vigorously is not recommended as it can create air bubbles and affect the insulin dose. Instead, the vial should be gently rolled between the hands to mix the insulin.

Choice D reason: Inserting the needle at a 15-degree angle is incorrect for subcutaneous injections. A 90-degree angle is typically used unless the patient is very thin, in which case a 45-degree angle may be used.

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A patient is exhibiting an altered level of consciousness and is unresponsive to verbal stimuli. To elicit a response from a painful stimulus, the nurse would:

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is teaching a client who has Graves' disease about recognizing the manifestations of thyroid storm. Which of the following findings should the nurse include in the teaching?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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