The husband of an older adult woman, diagnosed with pernicious anemia, calls the clinic to report that his wife still has memory loss and some confusion since she received the first dose of nasal cyanocobalamin two days ago. He tells the nurse that he is worried that she may be getting Alzheimer's disease. Which action should the nurse take?
Ask if the client is experiencing any change in bowel habits.
Determine if the client is taking iron and folic acid supplements.
Encourage the husband to bring the client to the clinic for a complete blood count.
Explain that memory loss and confusion are common with vitamin B12 deficiency.
The Correct Answer is D
A. Ask if the client is experiencing any change in bowel habits: Changes in bowel habits are not directly related to the confusion or memory loss seen in pernicious anemia. The concern here is primarily with vitamin B12 deficiency.
B. Determine if the client is taking iron and folic acid supplements: While iron and folic acid are important, they don't directly address the memory loss and confusion related to B12 deficiency. The immediate focus should be on the effects of the B12 treatment.
C. Encourage the husband to bring the client to the clinic for a complete blood count: A CBC can help monitor anemia, but it doesn't address the memory issues. The nurse should first explain the symptoms related to B12 deficiency.
D. Explain that memory loss and confusion are common with vitamin B12 deficiency:
Memory loss and confusion are known symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. These symptoms may take time to improve with treatment, and educating the husband helps alleviate concerns.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. A child with asthma, who takes prednisone and has a fasting serum glucose of 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L): This client’s fasting glucose is well above the normal range. Prednisone can increase blood glucose levels, placing the child at risk for hyperglycemia. This indicates a need for urgent education on blood glucose management while on steroids.
B. An adolescent male who has type 1 diabetes and a random glucose at 120 mg/dL (6.7 mmol/L): This blood glucose level is within normal limits for random testing. No immediate need for change in diabetic teaching is evident based on this value.
C. A female who has gestational diabetes and has a 1-hour postprandial glucose at 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L): Her result meets the upper limit range for gestational diabetes. While she requires ongoing monitoring, her values do not indicate a need for urgent intervention.
D. An adult who has type 2 diabetes and has a glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb A1C) at 10%: Although this indicates poor long-term control, it reflects a chronic issue. The child with an acutely elevated fasting glucose and corticosteroid use is at greater immediate risk and thus has higher priority for education.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. While the presence of greenish fluid in a nasogastric tube can indicate a small bowel obstruction, this finding alone does not necessarily indicate an immediate life-threatening condition. The client should be monitored, but this is not the priority.
B. Abdominal rigidity in the context of a volvulus (twisting of the bowel) can indicate bowel ischemia or perforation, which is a surgical emergency. Immediate intervention is needed to prevent further complications such as sepsis or peritonitis.
C. A paralytic ileus is a common postoperative complication and often resolves with time. While the absence of bowel sounds is concerning, it is a routine finding in this situation and does not require immediate attention unless there are signs of further complications.
D. Abdominal distention in a large bowel obstruction can indicate a need for further assessment and treatment. However, compared to a volvulus with abdominal rigidity, this situation is less urgent and does not represent an immediate life-threatening emergency.
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