The nurse is caring for a client who reports a sudden, severe headache, and facial numbness.The nurse asks the client to smile and observes an uneven smile with a facial droop to the right side and a hand grasp strength that is weaker on the right than the left. The client denies a recent history of headaches or trauma. After obtaining vital signs, the nurse should implement which intervention?

Place an indwelling urinary catheter and measure strict intake and output.

Maintain elevated positioning of the dependent joints on affected side.

Raise the head of the bed to 30 degrees keep head and neck in neutral alignment.

Determine when symptoms began and if improved or worsened since onset.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A)   Incorrect- While monitoring urinary output is important for overall assessment, it is not the most critical intervention in this situation of suspected stroke. The client's neurological symptoms take precedence.
B)   Incorrect- Positioning might be relevant to preventing complications, but it is not the highest priority intervention in this situation. The focus should be on assessing the client's neurological status and determining appropriate intervention.
C)   Incorrect- Although head positioning is relevant for intracranial pressure management, it is not the immediate priority. The nurse should first assess the time of symptom onset and determine if the client is experiencing an acute stroke.
D)   Correct- The client's symptoms, including sudden severe headache, facial numbness, facial droop, and weakness on one side, are suggestive of a stroke. The nurse should prioritize assessing the time of symptom onset, as time is a crucial factor in determining the appropriate intervention. Rapid intervention can improve outcomes in stroke cases, especially when considering interventions like thrombolytic therapy. The other options are not as directly relevant to the immediate management of a suspected stroke.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. Enrolling the UAP in a hospital education class on conducting safe client care is unnecessary at this moment. The immediate concern is ensuring the client's safety during the procedure.

B. Stopping the procedure and instructing the UAP to place the client in Fowler's position (or at least semi-Fowler's) is the correct action. This position helps prevent aspiration during oral hygiene for an unconscious client.

C. Praising the UAP for performing oral hygiene does not address the safety risk present in this situation. While family participation is encouraged, it should not be the focus here.

D. Telling the UAP to continue because the unconscious client is positioned safely is incorrect, as the flat side-lying position increases the risk of aspiration. Ensuring the client is positioned properly is essential for their safety.

A. Establish a second IV site. B. Stop the normal saline infusion. C. Assess the IV for blood return. D. Discontinue the 24 gauge IV. D. Discontinue the 24 gauge IV.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A) Incorrect- While a second IV site might be considered if the first one is causing significant discomfort, it's not the initial intervention. The nurse should first address the immediate concern of pain.
B) Correct- Pain at the IV site during infusion might indicate infiltration or irritation. Stopping the infusion is the most immediate intervention to prevent further discomfort and potential complications like tissue damage.
C) Incorrect- While assessing for blood return is important to ensure proper IV placement, it's not the initial intervention for managing pain caused by the infusion.
D) Incorrect- Discontinuing the IV might be considered if the pain is severe and unmanageable, but the nurse should initially try to address the discomfort without removing the IV.

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The practical nurse (PN) observes an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) performing oral hygiene on an unconscious client who is lying in a ﬂat side-lying position with an emesis basin on the bedside table near the chin. Which action should the PN take?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A client who was admitted yesterday with severe dehydration is reporting pain where a 24 gauge intravenous (IV) catheter with normal saline is infusing at a rate of 150 mL/hour. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Prior to administering pain medication to an adult postoperative client, what information should the practical nurse (PN) obtain? (Select all that apply.)

The practical nurse (PN) and unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) enter a client's room and find the client lying on the bed. The PN determines that the client is unresponsive. Which instruction should the PN give the UAP first?

Find patient data below. Exhibits here What actions should the nurse plan for the rest of the shift? Select all that apply.

A client with chronic kidney disease reports to the nurse of feeling increasingly tired. The client receives injections for epoetin alfa three times a week. Which laboratory value should the nurse review?

What action should the nurse take first when a client is inadvertently given an incorrect dose of a medication?

Find patient data about a client below. After the nurse assesses the client, the physician writes orders. The nurse reviews the orders. Which 2 orders should the nurse complete first?

Before leaving the room of a confused client, the nurse notes that a half-bow knot was used to attach the client's wrist restraints to the movable portion of the client's bed frame. What action should the nurse take before leaving the room?