The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). When completing an assessment for decreased perfusion from clotting, the nurse would observe for which manifestation?

Cyanosis

Petechiae

Epistaxis

Hematuria

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A.   Cyanosis, or a bluish discoloration of the skin, occurs when there is insufficient oxygen in the blood, which can result from decreased perfusion due to clotting in DIC. It is a sign of poor oxygenation and perfusion.
B.   While petechiae (small red or purple spots) are a common manifestation of DIC due to microvascular clotting and bleeding, they are not a sign of decreased perfusion.
C.   Epistaxis (nosebleeds) is another bleeding manifestation of DIC but is not indicative of decreased perfusion, which is more closely related to cyanosis.
D.   Hematuria (blood in the urine) can occur in DIC due to clotting in the kidneys or urinary tract. However, it is more related to bleeding than to decreased perfusion.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Clients with left-sided heart failure often experience symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and fluid retention, which limit physical activity. However, they may still feel relatively comfortable when resting.
B. These symptoms are more commonly associated with allergic reactions or side effects of medications (such as ACE inhibitors) rather than heart failure.
C. This is not typical in the later stages of left-sided heart failure. In fact, clients may experience reduced urine output due to poor kidney perfusion.
D. Chest pain can occur due to ischemia, but this is not a hallmark symptom of left-sided heart failure, which is more characterized by dyspnea and fatigue.

A. Sodium B. Magnesium C. Calcium D. Potassium

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. Sodium is crucial for maintaining normal cellular function, especially for nerve impulses and muscle contractions. However, sodium imbalances typically affect the general function of the heart, and sodium abnormalities are not commonly associated with torsades de pointes, which is a type of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.
B. Magnesium plays a critical role in the electrical stability of the heart and helps regulate potassium and calcium channels, which are involved in the cardiac action potential. Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium) is a well-known risk factor for torsades de pointes, a specific type of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia that is associated with QT interval prolongation. In this case, the magnesium level is 2.5 mg/dL, which is above the normal range (1.6-2.2 mg/dL), suggesting hypermagnesemia.
C. Calcium is vital for proper muscle function, including the heart muscle, and is essential for electrical conduction. Hypocalcemia (low calcium) can lead to QT interval prolongation, which in turn increases the risk for arrhythmias such as torsades de pointes. However, in this case, the calcium level is 8.0 mg/dL, which is only slightly below the normal range (8.2-10.2 mg/dL), making calcium a less likely primary contributor to torsades de pointes in this situation.
D. Potassium plays a crucial role in regulating the resting membrane potential and action potentials in cardiac cells. Hypokalemia (low potassium) can lead to QT prolongation and increase the risk of arrhythmias, including torsades de pointes. However, in this case, the potassium level is 2.8 mEq/L, which is low (normal range: 3.5-5.3 mEq/L), and hypokalemia is more commonly associated with arrhythmias such as torsades de pointes than hyperkalemia (high potassium).

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LAB	Result	Normal Range
Potassium	2.8 mEq/L	3.5-5.3mEq/L
Sodium	133 mEq/L	135-145 mEqL
Chloride	90 mEq/L	97-107 mEqL
Glucose	200 mg/dL	70mg/dL to 110mg/dL
Magnesium	2.5 mg/dL	1.6-2.2 mg/dL

The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). When completing an assessment for decreased perfusion from clotting, the nurse would observe for which manifestation?

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Labs

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). When completing an assessment for decreased perfusion from clotting, the nurse would observe for which manifestation?

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The nurse is caring for a client who is in the later stages of left-sided heart failure. Which chief complaint would the nurse expect the client to report?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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