The nurse caring for a client receiving a transfusion notes that 15 minutes after the infusion of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) has begun, the client is having difficulty breathing and complains of severe chest tightness. What is the most appropriate initial action for the nurse to take?

Remove the client's IV access.

Assess the client's chest sounds and vital signs

Notify the client's healthcare provider.

Stop the transfusion immediately.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A. Remove the client's IV access:

Removing the client's IV access is not the most appropriate initial action when a client experiences difficulty breathing and severe chest tightness during a transfusion. While it's important to discontinue the infusion, the immediate priority is to stop the transfusion itself to prevent further reaction and assess the client's condition.

B. Assess the client's chest sounds and vital signs:

This choice is the correct answer. After stopping the transfusion, the nurse should assess the client's respiratory status by listening to chest sounds for any wheezing or crackles, as well as checking vital signs such as oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and heart rate. These assessments help evaluate the severity of the reaction and guide further interventions.

C. Notify the client's healthcare provider:

Notifying the healthcare provider is an essential step, but it typically follows the immediate action of stopping the transfusion and assessing the client's condition. The healthcare provider needs to be informed promptly about the client's condition, transfusion reaction, and the actions taken for further guidance and orders.

D. Stop the transfusion immediately:

This is the initial and most critical action when a client experiences signs of a transfusion reaction such as difficulty breathing and severe chest tightness. Stopping the transfusion promptly helps prevent the reaction from worsening and allows for immediate assessment and intervention to ensure client safety.

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Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. "The decreased HDL level will increase the amount of cholesterol moved away from the artery walls":

This statement is incorrect. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is often referred to as "good" cholesterol because it helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream and transport it to the liver for processing. A decreased HDL level is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, not with moving cholesterol away from artery walls.

B. "Increased LDL and decreased HDL increase my risk of coronary artery disease":

This statement is correct. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is often referred to as "bad" cholesterol because elevated LDL levels contribute to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, increasing the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Conversely, decreased HDL levels are associated with reduced cholesterol removal from the bloodstream, further increasing the risk of CAD.

C. "Increased LDL has the potential to decrease my risk of heart disease":

This statement is incorrect. Elevated LDL levels are a major risk factor for heart disease and are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events.

D. "The increased LDL will decrease the amount of cholesterol deposited on the artery walls":

This statement is incorrect. Increased LDL levels contribute to the deposition of cholesterol on artery walls, leading to the formation of plaque and narrowing of the arteries, which is detrimental to heart health.

Correct Answer is ["1"]

Explanation

If the nurse needs to administer vancomycin 500 mg PO daily divided into four equal doses, and the available capsules are vancomycin 125 mg each, the nurse would administer:

500 mg total daily dose ÷ 4 doses = 125 mg per dose

Since each capsule contains 125 mg of vancomycin, the nurse would administer 1 capsule with each dose.

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The nurse caring for a client receiving a transfusion notes that 15 minutes after the infusion of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) has begun, the client is having difficulty breathing and complains of severe chest tightness. What is the most appropriate initial action for the nurse to take?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is conducting client teaching about cholesterol levels. When discussing the client's elevated LDL and lowered HDL levels, the client shows an understanding of the significance of these levels by stating what?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A nurse is preparing to administer vancomycin 500 mg PO daily divided into four equal doses. The amount available is vancomycin 125 mg capsules. How many capsules should the nurse administerwitheachdose?

Correct Answer is ["1"]

Explanation

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