An older client reports experiencing frequent dizzy spells. To assess for orthostatic hypotension, which action should the nurse take first?

Assist client to a supine position.

Instruct the client to stand upright.

Place the client in a semi-Fowler's position.

Help the client sit on the side of the bed.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A. Assist client to a supine position: The initial step in assessing orthostatic hypotension is to have the client lie supine for several minutes. This allows baseline blood pressure and heart rate to be measured in a stable, resting position before changing posture.

B. Instruct the client to stand upright: Standing too soon without establishing baseline measurements may place the client at risk for falls or injury due to dizziness or sudden blood pressure changes.

C. Place the client in a semi-Fowler's position: A semi-Fowler’s position is partially upright, which does not provide an accurate baseline for assessing orthostatic changes compared to the supine position.

D. Help the client sit on the side of the bed: Sitting at the bedside is part of the assessment sequence, but it should occur after obtaining supine baseline readings to safely monitor changes in blood pressure and heart rate.

Nursing Test Bank

Test Bank #1: RN Pharmacology Exams Test Bank #2: RN Medical-Surgical Exams Test Bank #3: RN Fundamentals Exams Test Bank #4: RN Maternal-Newborn Exams Test Bank #5: RN Anatomy and Physiology Exams Test Bank #6: RN Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Test Bank #7: RN Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Test Bank #9: RN Adult Health Test Bank #10: RN Dosage Calculation Test Bank #11: RN Community Health Exams Test Bank #12: RN Psychology Exams Test Bank #13: RN Nursing Care Of Children Test Bank #14: RN Foundations of Nursing Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Exam #1: RN Comprehensive predictor 2023 proctored exam Exam #2: Ati rn vati comprehensive predictor proctored exam Exam #3: Ati Rn Comprehensive Predictor Proctored Exam 2023 Exam #4: Rn Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Proctored Exam - St. Joseph Exam #5: RN Comprehensive Predictor Proctored Exam (National U CA San Diego) Exam #6: Ati rn comprehensive predictor 2023 retake proctored exam Exam #7: RN Hesi Exit Proctored Exam Exam #8: Hesi RN Exit proctored exam Exam #9: Hesi rn exit proctored exam Exam #10: Hesi Rn compass exit B proctored exam

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. Before going to bed: Bedtime glucose checks may be recommended for some clients, especially those on insulin, but this timing is individualized. It is not universally required for every client with diabetes.

B. During acute illness: Any client with diabetes, regardless of age or type, should monitor glucose closely during acute illness. Illness can cause stress-induced hyperglycemia or unpredictable fluctuations, requiring more frequent testing to guide management.

C. Prior to exercising: Checking glucose before exercise is important for clients at risk of hypoglycemia, especially those using insulin or certain oral agents. However, this is not necessary for all clients, particularly those with type 2 diabetes controlled by diet alone.

D. Immediately after meals: Postprandial monitoring is useful in some cases to evaluate mealtime insulin effectiveness or dietary impact, but it is not universally recommended for every diabetic client. Its use depends on individualized treatment plans.

Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"A","dropdown-group-2":"B"}

Explanation

Rationale for correct choices:

• Pain: The client reports a pain level of 10/10 in the left arm, described as sharp and constant. Pain at this severity requires urgent management because uncontrolled pain can impair mobility. Immediate intervention for pain ensures comfort and supports further diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

• Compartment syndrome: Findings of swelling, decreased sensation, coolness of the skin, and diminished left radial pulse suggest compromised circulation. These are classic warning signs of compartment syndrome, a limb-threatening complication caused by increased pressure within a muscle compartment.

Rationale for incorrect choices:

• Mobility: While the client’s long-term recovery will require mobility interventions, it is not the immediate priority in the acute emergency setting. Pain and neurovascular compromise take precedence over mobility at this stage because they directly affect safety and circulation.

• Swelling: Swelling is a significant concern, but it is a symptom rather than the priority need. Addressing pain and preventing complications such as compartment syndrome will indirectly reduce swelling by improving circulation and managing tissue injury.

• Venous thromboembolism: The client’s high BMI and reduced mobility put him at risk for VTE, but this is a longer-term complication. It does not outweigh the immediate need to manage severe pain and monitor for compartment syndrome, which can cause rapid tissue necrosis.

• Fat embolism syndrome: Fat embolism is a possible complication of long bone fractures, but there is no evidence here of a femoral fracture or respiratory distress. Although his weight and orthopedic history are risk factors, the current findings point more strongly toward compartment syndrome.

View Question and Answer

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

An older client reports experiencing frequent dizzy spells. To assess for orthostatic hypotension, which action should the nurse take first?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is planning a class about blood glucose monitoring for a group of clients with diabetes mellitus. Which timing of glucose testing would apply for any client regardless of the client's age or type of diabetes?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Patient Data Exhibits Choose the most likely options for the information missing from the statements by selecting from the lists of options provided. Based on the client's condition, the priority need will be to address dropdown. In addition, he will need interventions to prevent dropdown_.

Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"A","dropdown-group-2":"B"}

Explanation

A client who is receiving zidovudine reports the appearance of pinpoint, red, round spots on the skin. Which result should the nurse report to the healthcare provider (HCР)?

A 15-year-old male client was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus. He tells the nurse that he is having difficulty adhering to his meal plan when he is with his friends. Which nursing intervention is best for the nurse to implement?

A client with foul smelling drainage from an incision on the upper left arm is admitted with a suspected methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Which nursing intervention(s) should the nurse include in the plan of care (POC)? Select all that apply.

Which finding should the nurse recognize as a potential complication in a client with hypertension?

The nurse is planning care for a client who has a fourth degree midline laceration that occurred during vaginal delivery of an 8-pound 10-ounce (3674 grams) infant. Which intervention has the highest priority for this client?

Patient Data Exhibits The nurse is reviewing the client's initial assessment findings. Which assessment findings require follow-up? Select all that apply.