The nurse is caring for a client immediately after repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. On assessment, the client has absent popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis pulses. The leg cool and mottled. Which action should the nurse take ﬁrst?

Wrap both legs in a warming blanket

Compare ﬁndings to the preoperative assessment of the pulses

Document the ﬁndings and recheck in 15 minutes.

Notify the surgeon and anesthesiologist

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

The nurse should prioritize notifying the surgeon and anesthesiologist as the ﬁrst action. The absent pulses, coolness, and mottled appearance of the leg indicate potential compromised blood ﬂow to the lower extremity, which could be a sign of vascular compromise or acute limb ischemia. These ﬁndings are concerning after the repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm and require immediate medical attention.

Wrap both legs in a warming blanket: While it is important to maintain the client's body temperature, this action alone may not address the underlying issue of compromised blood ﬂow and potential limb ischemia. Notifying the surgeon and anesthesiologist is the priority to address the immediate concern.

Compare ﬁndings to the preoperative assessment of the pulses: While comparing ﬁndings to the preoperative assessment is important for evaluating the client's condition, it should not delay immediate action. The priority in this situation is to promptly notify the surgeon and anesthesiologist to address the potential vascular compromise.

Document the ﬁndings and recheck in 15 minutes: Documenting the ﬁndings is an important step in the nursing process, but it should not take precedence over immediate intervention. The concerning signs of absent pulses, coolness, and mottled appearance require urgent attention, and delaying notiﬁcation could lead to further complications.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

An ABI of 0.89 indicates a reduced blood ﬂow to the lower extremities, which is suggestive of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). In PAD, there is narrowing or blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the legs and feet. Medications like clopidogrel and simvastatin are commonly prescribed for individuals with PAD to manage the condition and reduce the risk of complications.

Here's an explanation of why the other options are not the most appropriate interventions:

Document the information as a normal ﬁnding: An ABI of 0.89 is not considered a normal ﬁnding. An ABI value below 0.9 is generally indicative of PAD or reduced blood ﬂow to the lower extremities.

Prepare the client for an arterial bypass: An ABI value of 0.89 alone does not warrant immediate preparation for an arterial bypass. Arterial bypass surgery is typically considered for severe cases of PAD with signiﬁcant symptoms that signiﬁcantly impact the client's quality of life and other conservative treatments have not been successful.

Educate the client about the use of compression stockings: While compression stockings may be a part of the overall management of PAD, the ABI result alone does not indicate an immediate need for education about compression stockings. Other interventions, such as medication management, lifestyle modiﬁcations, and possibly revascularization procedures, may be more appropriate based on the severity of the PAD.

A. Blood glucose 90 mg/dL B. Pain level of 10 out of 10 C. Temperature 101.9 F D. Hemoglobin: 7g/dl E. Cocaine abuse

Correct Answer is ["B","C","D","E"]

Explanation

Pain level of 10 out of 10: Severe pain can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and result in an increased heart rate.

Temperature 101.9°F: Fever can lead to an elevated heart rate as the body's response to infection or inﬂammation.

Hemoglobin: 7 g/dL: Low hemoglobin levels, known as anemia, can cause the heart to pump faster in an attempt to compensate for the decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

Cocaine abuse: Cocaine is a stimulant drug that can signiﬁcantly increase heart rate and cause tachycardia.

The following clinical ﬁnding would not typically be associated with tachycardia:

Blood glucose 90 mg/dL: While low or high blood glucose levels can cause symptoms, they are not directly associated with tachycardia unless they lead to signiﬁcant physiological stress or hormonal imbalances.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

The nurse is caring for a client immediately after repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. On assessment, the client has absent popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis pulses. The leg cool and mottled. Which action should the nurse take ﬁrst?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is assessing a client with a presumptive diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease. The nurse obtains an Ankle-Brachial index of 0.89. Which intervention should the nurse take next?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

The nurse is assessing a client with a heart rate of 124 bpm. What clinical ﬁnding(s) should the nurse assess as causes of tachycardia? Select all that apply.

Correct Answer is ["B","C","D","E"]

Explanation

While assessing a client, the nurse notes that the client's ankle-brachial index (ABI) of the right leg is 0.40. How should the nurse best follow up this assessment ﬁnding?

The nurse is reviewing the medical electronic record of a client with abdominal aortic aneurysm less than 3 cm in size. Which medical treatment should the nurse anticipate to be prescribed for the client?

A nurse is preparing a client for scheduled transesophageal echocardiography. Which action should the nurse perform?

A nurse is assessing a client with intermittent claudication. What client statement supports this information?

The nurse is discussing discharge teaching with the client who is three (3) days post-operative abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Which information should the nurse include in the teaching?

The nurse is assessing a client with a hypertensive emergency. Which ﬁnding is most important to report to the health care provider?

A nurse is teaching a client with chronic peripheral artery disease. What client statement indicates the need for further teaching?

The charge nurse observes a new registered nurse (RN) doing discharge teaching for a client with hypertension who has a new prescription for enalapril (Vasotec). Which statement of the nurse to the patient would require the charge nurse's intervention?