An adult female client, who is an office worker, comes to the occupational health dinic with an edematous right leg twice the size of the left leg. The client reports that she is otherwise healthy, smokes 2 packs of cigarettes a day, and takes birth control pills on a regular basis. Which initial nursing action should the occupational health nurse take?

Ask the client to rate her pain on a scale from 0 to 10.

Teach the client to keep the leg elevated

Treat with ice then apply an elastic bandage wrap.

Check the leg for warmth and erythema.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A.   While pain assessment is important, it's not the priority in this situation. Pain can be present in various conditions, and it doesn't necessarily indicate DVT.
B.   Elevating the leg can help reduce swelling but is not the initial action. The nurse needs to rule out a serious condition like DVT first.
C.   Applying ice and an elastic bandage might be appropriate for some types of swelling but is not the correct initial action for a sudden, unilateral leg swelling.
D.   The client presents with sudden, unilateral leg swelling, which is a red flag for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a serious condition that can lead to pulmonary embolism. Therefore, the nurse's priority is to assess for signs of inflammation, which are warmth and erythema.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. Hematocrit measures the proportion of blood volume that is occupied by red blood cells. A hematocrit of 33% is lower than the normal range (42% to 52% for males and 37% to 47% for females). While this indicates anemia and reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, it is not directly related to the risk for infection.
B. White blood cells (WBCs) are crucial for the immune system and fighting infections. A WBC count of 1,500/mm³ is significantly below the normal range (5,000 to 10,000/mm³). This low WBC count, also known as leukopenia, indicates a decreased ability to fight infections, making the client highly susceptible to infections.
C. Hemoglobin measures the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells. A hemoglobin level of 10 g/dL is below the normal range (14 to 18 g/dL), indicating anemia. While anemia affects overall health and can contribute to fatigue and weakness, it does not directly indicate the risk for infection.
D. The red blood cell (RBC) count measures the number of red blood cells in the blood. A count of 3.5 x 10^12/L is below the normal range (4.2 to 5.4 x 10^12/L), indicating a reduction in red blood cells and anemia. Like low hemoglobin, this value indicates anemia but does not directly reflect the risk for infection.

A. Place protective padding between the client and bed rails. B. Provide privacy for the client during the event. C. Observe the client's behavior during the event. D. Record the client's level of consciousness after the event.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Placing protective padding between the client and bed rails is a safety measure to prevent injury during a seizure. This action helps protect the client from head or body trauma if they hit the bed rails or any surrounding surfaces during the seizure.
B. Providing privacy is important for maintaining the client’s dignity during a seizure, but it is not the most immediate concern. The primary focus during a seizure should be on ensuring the client’s safety and monitoring the event. Privacy can be considered once the immediate safety and medical needs are addressed.
C. Observing the client's behavior during the seizure is essential for documentation and subsequent medical evaluation. It helps in identifying the type, duration, and characteristics of the seizure, which is crucial for diagnosis and treatment. However, observation alone does not address immediate safety needs or interventions required during the seizure.
D. Recording the client's level of consciousness after the seizure is important for assessing the postictal state and the extent of recovery. This information is valuable for understanding the impact of the seizure and guiding further medical care. However, during the seizure, immediate actions should focus on ensuring safety and managing the seizure itself.

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Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

The nurse observes a client who begins to exhibit continuous jerking movements, is unable to speak, and is incontinent of urine during the event. Which action is most important for the nurse to take?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

While assessing a client following lithotripsy with stent insertion, which data indicates to the nurse that the procedure was successful?

A client is scheduled for a scleral buckling procedure after previously having multiple laser coagulation procedures done for retinal tears. Which Information about the immediate postoperative period should the nurse provide this client?

The nurse has determined that a client with trigeminal neuralgia has the nursing problem, "Imbalanced nutrition, less than body requirements." Which cause is most likely contributing to the problem?

A client with coronary artery disease is hospitalized with unstable angina. To reduce cardiac workload, which intervention should the nurse include in the client's plan of care?

The nurse is preparing a teaching plan for a client taking a prescribed diuretic for edema in the lower extremities. Which instruction should the nurse include in this teaching plan?