A patient is having dyspnea. What would the nurse do first?

Take the blood pressure

Remove the pillow from under the patient’s head

Elevate the foot of the bed

Elevate the head of the bed

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A. Take the blood pressure:

Assessing blood pressure is a critical initial step when a patient is experiencing dyspnea. It helps provide information about the patient's overall cardiovascular status, which is essential in determining the severity of the dyspnea and guiding subsequent interventions.

B. Remove the pillow from under the patient’s head:

Removing the pillow may be a relevant intervention if the patient is in a position that could be contributing to respiratory distress. However, the priority is to first assess vital signs, particularly blood pressure, to gather information about the patient's cardiovascular status.

C. Elevate the foot of the bed:

Elevating the foot of the bed may be a consideration if the dyspnea is related to conditions such as heart failure, where raising the legs can help reduce venous return and decrease the workload on the heart. However, the initial priority is to assess blood pressure to guide appropriate interventions.

D. Elevate the head of the bed:

Elevating the head of the bed may be beneficial for patients with respiratory distress to improve ventilation and oxygenation. While this intervention may be appropriate, the first action should be to assess vital signs, particularly blood pressure, to gain an overall understanding of the patient's condition.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Ask the client if she is having pain.

This option recognizes the potential relationship between pain and elevated blood pressure. Assessing the client for pain is crucial, as pain can contribute to increased blood pressure.

B. Request a prescription for an antianxiety medication.

This option assumes that anxiety might be the cause of the elevated blood pressure. However, without further assessment, it may not be appropriate to jump to prescribing medication for anxiety.

C. Request a prescription for an antihypertensive medication.

Initiating antihypertensive medication without further assessment may not be the most appropriate first step, especially if the elevated blood pressure is related to pain or another temporary factor.

D. Return in 30 minutes to recheck the client’s blood pressure.

While monitoring blood pressure is important, waiting 30 minutes without further assessment or intervention might delay addressing the underlying issue, especially if it is related to pain or another acute problem.

A. Skin fold B. Toe C. Earlobe D. Finger

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Skin fold:

This may not be the best choice in this situation because the skin fold might not provide an accurate reading, especially if the hands are edematous.

B. Toe:

While the toe is a common site for pulse oximetry, in a patient with bilateral lower leg amputations, it might not be the most practical option. The nurse might face challenges in securing the pulse oximeter probe on the toe, and the accuracy of the reading could be affected.

C. Earlobe:

This is often a suitable alternative site for pulse oximetry when peripheral perfusion is compromised in the extremities. In this case, with bilateral lower leg amputations and edematous hands, applying the pulse oximeter probe to the earlobe is a good choice.

D. Finger:

In a patient with edematous hands, the finger might not be the best choice as the edema could affect the accuracy of the measurement. Additionally, if the patient has lower leg amputations, using the earlobe or another alternative site may be more appropriate.

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A patient is having dyspnea. What would the nurse do first?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse in the ER is caring for a patient who had fallen at home. She reviews the blood pressure reading of 160/80 mm Hg. The client denies any history of hypertension. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is preparing to measure a client’s level of oxygen saturation on a patient who has had a bilateral lower leg amputation. He noticed the patient’s hands are very edematous. The nurse should apply the pulse oximeter probe to which of the following locations?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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