The nurse is caring for the following clients. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A 60-year-old client who has end-stage renal disease with a creatinine of 5.1
A 50-year-old client who has chronic pancreatitis and is reporting a pain level of 6 out of 10
A 54-year-old client with cirrhosis and jaundice who is reporting itchiness and drowsiness
A 47-year-old client with esophageal varices and influenza and has been coughing for 30 minutes
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: Creatinine 5.1 in ESRD is chronic, not acute, and stable unless symptomatic; it’s less urgent than potential bleeding risks in other clients.
Choice B reason: Pain (6/10) in pancreatitis is significant but not immediately life-threatening compared to airway or bleeding risks, manageable with scheduled interventions.
Choice C reason: Itchiness and drowsiness in cirrhosis suggest liver dysfunction, concerning but not acute threats like variceal rupture, prioritizing more critical symptoms.
Choice D reason: Coughing with esophageal varices risks rupture and massive bleeding, a life-threatening emergency, making this client the priority for immediate assessment.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Albuterol, a bronchodilator, rapidly opens airways in COPD, relieving acute shortness of breath and improving oxygenation from 85% by relaxing bronchial smooth muscle.
Choice B reason: Mucolytics thin mucus over time, not addressing acute dyspnea or low saturation (85%) quickly, lacking the immediacy needed in this scenario.
Choice C reason: Montelukast prevents asthma inflammation long-term via leukotriene blockade, not providing rapid relief for COPD’s acute bronchospasm or hypoxia here.
Choice D reason: Prednisone reduces COPD inflammation systemically, but its slow onset doesn’t acutely reverse shortness of breath or oxygen drop like a bronchodilator.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Hydroxychloroquine treats autoimmune diseases like lupus by modulating immunity, not hyperthyroidism’s excess thyroid hormone production, irrelevant here.
Choice B reason: Levothyroxine supplements thyroid hormone in hypothyroidism, worsening this patient’s hyperthyroidism (high T3/T4), contraindicated for her symptoms.
Choice C reason: Potassium iodide inhibits thyroid hormone release, reducing T3 and T4 in hyperthyroidism (e.g., Graves’), addressing her goiter, exophthalmos, and weight loss effectively.
Choice D reason: Methotrexate suppresses immunity in cancer or autoimmunity, not targeting thyroid overactivity or hormone levels, unsuitable for hyperthyroidism management.
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