The emergency service team brings a homeless client found lying in an alley to the emergency department. An assessment is performed, and the client is suspected of having frostbite of the hands.
Which finding would the nurse expect to note in this condition?
Red skin with edema in the nail beds.
Black fingertips surrounded by an erythematous rash.
A white appearance to the skin that is insensitive to touch.
A pink edematous hand.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
Red skin with edema in the nail beds is more indicative of a superficial injury or inflammation, such as cellulitis or a mild burn, rather than frostbite.
Choice B rationale
Black fingertips surrounded by an erythematous rash suggest gangrene or severe necrosis, which can occur in advanced stages of frostbite but is not an initial finding.
Choice C rationale
A white appearance to the skin that is insensitive to touch is a classic sign of frostbite. The lack of sensation is due to the freezing of tissues and nerves, and the white color indicates a lack of blood flow to the affected area.
Choice D rationale
A pink edematous hand is more indicative of a mild inflammatory response or early stages of frostbite before the tissue has frozen. It does not represent the more severe presentation of frostbite.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
A mesh-like device within the catheter that springs open is characteristic of a stent, not a balloon-tipped catheter used in PTCA. Stents are often used in conjunction with angioplasty to keep the artery open after the balloon has compressed the plaque.
Choice B rationale
While catheters can be used to take pressure measurements, this is not the primary function of the balloon-tipped catheter in PTCA. The main purpose of the balloon-tipped catheter is to compress the plaque against the artery wall to improve blood flow.
Choice C rationale
The balloon-tipped catheter in PTCA is used to compress the plaque against the coronary blood vessel wall. This process, known as balloon angioplasty, helps to widen the artery and improve blood flow to the heart.
Choice D rationale
Cutting away plaque with an embedded blade is a description of atherectomy, not PTCA. Atherectomy involves a different type of catheter designed to remove plaque from the artery wall.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Unilateral joint involvement is not typical of rheumatoid arthritis. This condition usually affects joints symmetrically, meaning both sides of the body are involved. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks the synovium, leading to inflammation and joint damage.
Choice B rationale
Ulnar deviation is a common finding in rheumatoid arthritis. It occurs due to chronic inflammation and damage to the joints, particularly in the hands. The fingers may deviate towards the ulnar side (the side of the little finger) due to the weakening of the ligaments and tendons.
Choice C rationale
Decreased sedimentation rate is not a typical finding in rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is usually elevated in this condition due to the ongoing inflammation. ESR is a marker of inflammation and is used to monitor disease activity.
Choice D rationale
Fractures of the spine are not a common finding in rheumatoid arthritis. While osteoporosis can be a complication of rheumatoid arthritis, leading to an increased risk of fractures, the spine is not typically the primary site of joint involvement in this condition.
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