Exhibits
A nurse is preparing to care for an 84-year-old male client who is being admitted to a medical unit from a provider's office. The nurse reviews the client's medical records to prepare the client's plan of care.
Complete the diagram by dragging from the choices below to specify what condition the client is most likely experiencing, 2 actions the nurse should take to address that condition, and 2 parameters the nurse should monitor to assess the client's progress.
The Correct Answer is []
Condition Most Likely Experiencing: Heart failure.
The client presents with signs and symptoms consistent with heart failure, including cardiomegaly, bibasilar pleural congestion on chest x-ray, elevated BNP level, and vital signs indicating hypertension (BP 146/98 mm Hg), tachycardia (pulse rate 106/min), and tachypnea (respirations 24/min). Additionally, the client is prescribed medications commonly used to manage heart failure, such as digoxin and carvedilol, and is receiving a diuretic (furosemide) to address fluid overload associated with heart failure.
Action to Take:
Elevate the head of the bed: Elevating the head of the bed helps reduce venous return to the heart, decreasing preload and potentially alleviating symptoms of heart failure, such as dyspnea and orthopnea. It can also help prevent aspiration in clients with compromised cardiac function. Encourage intake of a low-sodium diet: A low-sodium diet is essential in managing heart failure as it helps reduce fluid retention and edema by decreasing fluid volume overload. Sodium restriction helps minimize fluid accumulation, which is crucial in preventing exacerbations of heart failure.
Parameter to Monitor:
Urinary output: Monitoring urinary output is important in assessing fluid balance and response to diuretic therapy in clients with heart failure. Decreased urinary output may indicate worsening heart failure or inadequate response to diuretic therapy, whereas increased output may suggest over-diuresis or improvement in heart failure symptoms.
Blood pressure: Monitoring blood pressure helps assess the effectiveness of treatment in managing heart failure and controlling hypertension, a common comorbidity. Hypertension can exacerbate heart failure, so monitoring blood pressure trends helps guide adjustments in medication therapy to achieve optimal blood pressure control and improve cardiac function.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. The client has circumoral cyanosis: Circumoral cyanosis, or bluish discoloration around the mouth, is a sign of hypoxia but may not be present in all cases of hypoxemia. Pulse oximetry provides a more objective measurement.
B. The client's heart rate is 86 bpm: Heart rate may be within normal limits even in the presence of hypoxemia, as compensatory mechanisms may not be fully activated.
C. The client has a pulse ox of 90% on room air: A pulse oximetry reading of 90% indicates hypoxemia (oxygen saturation below normal levels), which is a significant finding, especially in a client with COPD who may already have compromised respiratory function.
D. The client is lethargic: Lethargy may occur with severe hypoxemia, but it is a late sign and may not always be present. Monitoring oxygen saturation is more reliable for early detection of hypoxemia.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Isolation gown: Isolation gowns are used as part of contact precautions or airborne precautions for specific infectious diseases that require additional transmission-based precautions beyond standard precautions. However, standard precautions are generally sufficient for caring for clients with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy.
B. Contact isolation: Contact isolation is used for patients with known or suspected infections that can be transmitted by direct or indirect contact with the patient or their environment. HIV does not require contact isolation unless there are additional infections or conditions present that warrant contact precautions.
C. Standard precautions: Standard precautions are the basic infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care, regardless of the suspected or confirmed infection status of the patient. This includes practices such as hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment (e.g., gloves, gown, mask, eye protection) when indicated, and safe injection practices. Standard precautions should be used for all patients, including those with HIV, to prevent the transmission of infectious agents.
D. Respiratory isolation: Respiratory isolation is used for patients with known or suspected respiratory infections that are transmitted through respiratory droplets. HIV is not transmitted through respiratory droplets and does not require respiratory isolation.
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