An older adult client grimaces and demonstrates guarding behavior, but denies experiencing pain when asked by the nurse to rate the pain on a numeric scale. Which action should the nurse take next?

Ask the client to describe how they are feeling.

Administer a PRN dose of a prescribed analgesic.

Document that the client denies pain in the nurse's notes.

Confront the client about inconsistent behavior and response.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A.   Asking the client to describe their feelings provides an opportunity to explore their symptoms in more detail, which might help in understanding their pain better. This approach respects the client's experience and opens a dialogue to assess their discomfort more accurately, especially if they are not expressing it verbally or are having difficulty quantifying it.
B.   Administering medication without further assessment might be premature. The client's denial of pain and the presence of grimacing and guarding behavior suggest that there may be underlying discomfort, but it's crucial to assess the situation more thoroughly before administering medication.
C.   While documenting the client’s verbal denial of pain is important, it should not be the only action taken. The client's non-verbal cues such as grimacing and guarding behavior suggest that they might be experiencing pain despite their verbal denial.
D.   Confronting the client could be perceived as accusatory and might make them feel defensive or uncomfortable. It's important to approach the situation with empathy and understanding rather than confrontation.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Pitting edema, especially at a 4+ level, indicates significant fluid retention in the lower extremities. While this can be a concern for skin integrity and may contribute to skin breakdown due to increased pressure and reduced mobility, it is not the most direct indicator for turning schedules.
B. Hypoactive bowel sounds and infrequent bowel movements suggest gastrointestinal issues, such as constipation or reduced bowel motility. While these issues are important to address for overall client health, they do not directly impact the scheduling of turning to prevent pressure ulcers.
C. The Braden Risk Assessment Scale is a tool used to evaluate a client's risk for developing pressure ulcers. A score of 10 indicates a high risk for pressure ulcer development. This assessment directly informs the need for a more aggressive turning schedule and other preventive measures to protect skin integrity.
D. Warm, dry skin and a low-grade fever might indicate an infection or other underlying condition, but these factors are not the primary considerations for determining the turning schedule. While fever and skin temperature can be important for overall assessment and care, they do not directly impact the need for turning to prevent pressure ulcers.

A. Maintain continuous cardiac monitoring. B. Monitor urinary output. C. Check a serum potassium level postinfusion. D. Obtain vital signs every 2 hours.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A.Potassium affects the electrical activity of the heart, and abnormal potassium levels can lead to serious cardiac arrhythmias or other complications. Continuous cardiac monitoring is crucial when administering potassium chloride because it helps detect any arrhythmias or changes in heart function that might be caused by changes in potassium levels.
B.Monitoring urinary output is important because adequate urine output helps assess kidney function and ensures that potassium is being excreted properly. While monitoring urinary output is important, it is secondary to immediate cardiac monitoring during the infusion.
C.Checking the serum potassium level after the infusion is important to confirm that potassium levels have normalized or stayed within the target range. However, this action is not as immediate as continuous cardiac monitoring during the infusion.
D.Regular monitoring of vital signs is important to assess overall client stability and detect any systemic changes. However, obtaining vital signs every 2 hours might not be as critical as continuous cardiac monitoring when administering potassium.

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An older adult client grimaces and demonstrates guarding behavior, but denies experiencing pain when asked by the nurse to rate the pain on a numeric scale. Which action should the nurse take next?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

In planning the turning schedule for a bedfast client, it is most important for the nurse to consider which assessment finding?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The client is receiving a liter of 0.9% sodium chloride with potassium chloride (KCI) 30 mEq IV to infuse over 4 hours. Which nursing action has the highest priority for this client?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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