Exhibits

The nurse reviews the client's history of the presenting illness in the electronic medical record. Highlight the pieces of key subjective data which indicate the client is in need of health interventions.

A 34-year-old male client presents to the emergency department (ED) for an asthma attack that began after jogging through a local park. The client is able to answer questions every few words to catch his breath. He reports using his rescue inhaler three times, but he couldn't catch his breath. He reports that his symptoms are worse when outdoors and when exercising, and episodes like this make him extremely nervous. He says that it has been a couple of months since his last asthma attack, and he came to the ED today because he noticed his inhaler was expired and was worried the medication was not working.

Condition:

Postoperative infection

2 Actions:

1. Administer prescribed antibiotics.
2. Culture wound drainage.

2 Parameters:

1. Temperature.
2. White blood cell count.

Rationale for correct condition:

A postoperative infection is the most likely condition because the patient has elevated white blood cell count (11,000/mm³) and a slightly elevated temperature (99.8°F). These findings suggest a systemic inflammatory response, potentially from infection. The presence of a recent surgical wound increases the risk of bacterial contamination. The absence of redness or drainage does not rule out deeper tissue infection. The patient’s symptoms align with early signs of an infectious process.

Rationale for the two correct actions:

1. Administer prescribed antibiotics: Antibiotics target potential bacterial infection, which is critical to prevent further complications such as systemic infection or sepsis.
2. Culture wound drainage: This identifies the causative organism and guides appropriate antibiotic therapy. Even if the wound appears clean externally, culturing can confirm or rule out deeper infection.

Rationale for parameters to monitor:

1. Temperature: Monitoring temperature helps identify trends in fever, a common sign of infection progression or resolution.
2. White blood cell count: Elevated levels are a marker of infection or inflammation. Monitoring changes in WBC count can indicate if treatment is effective.

Rationale for incorrect conditions:

1. Surgical rash: A rash is not indicated in the notes, and the elevated WBC count and temperature do not suggest a dermatologic issue.
2. Contractures: No evidence suggests reduced mobility or positioning problems causing contractures.
3. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): The client’s normal vital signs and lack of redness or swelling in the residual limb make DVT less likely.

Rationale for incorrect actions to take:

1. Request NPO prescription: There is no evidence of gastrointestinal issues or surgery requiring this intervention.
2. Elevate residual limb to reduce swelling: While useful in managing swelling, there is no current sign of significant limb edema requiring elevation.
3. Educate on incentive spirometer use: This is preventive for respiratory complications but unrelated to infection management.

Rationale for incorrect parameters to monitor:

1. Adherence to activity prescription: While important for recovery, it does not directly address infection.
2. Residual limb redness or swelling: Although relevant to infection, there is no current evidence of redness or swelling in the notes.
3. Pain intensity and characteristics: Pain is already being managed with morphine, and its current level (5/10) does not directly indicate infection.

Choice A reason: Thick skin plaques topped by silvery white scales are characteristic findings in psoriasis vulgaris itself and do not indicate overexposure to PUVA treatment. These plaques are a result of rapid skin cell turnover and are typically the target of treatment, not a side effect of overexposure.

Choice B reason: The requirement for sunglasses because sunlight hurts the eyes is not a specific indication of overexposure to PUVA treatment. While PUVA therapy can increase sensitivity to light, the use of sunglasses is a preventive measure and does not necessarily indicate overexposure.

Choice C reason: Brown, rough, greasy, wart-like papules on the face suggest the presence of seborrheic keratosis or another benign skin condition, not overexposure to PUVA treatment. These lesions are unrelated to the therapy and do not serve as an indicator of overexposure.

Choice D reason: Tenderness upon palpation and generalized erythema are signs of overexposure to PUVA treatment. Overexposure can lead to phototoxic reactions, resulting in skin irritation, redness, and tenderness. These symptoms indicate that the client has received too much UV radiation during the treatment, leading to an adverse reaction.