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The nurse is continuing to care for the child.

Exhibits

Complete the following sentence by using the lists of options.

The child is at highest risk for developing

as evidenced by the child's .
Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"A","dropdown-group-2":"A"}

Rationale for Correct Choices:

  • Compartment Syndrome: Compartment syndrome is a limb-threatening condition that occurs when increased pressure within a muscle compartment impairs circulation and nerve function. The child has a nondisplaced fracture of both the radius and ulna, along with edema, ecchymosis, and fingers that are cool to touch, all of which are early signs of compromised perfusion.
  • Tingling Sensation: Tingling (paresthesia) is an early neurological sign of impaired sensory function often seen in the early stages of compartment syndrome. This child verbalizes a mild tingling in the fingers, which indicates nerve compression due to increased pressure within the forearm compartments.

Rationale for Incorrect Choices

  • Paresthesia: Tingling is the hallmark symptom of paresthesia, but paresthesia is a symptom, not a disease process. The nurse must determine the underlying cause of the altered sensation, which in this situation is likely compartment syndrome.
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): DVT typically presents with unilateral leg swelling, warmth, pain, and sometimes redness—not forearm injury symptoms. The child has a forearm fracture and bruises on the lower extremities in different healing stages, but there's no localized swelling, erythema, or immobility in the legs to support a DVT diagnosis.
  • Pain Level: A pain score of 4 out of 10 is not severe enough to support compartment syndrome or any acute vascular crisis alone. Pain that is out of proportion to the injury and unrelieved by medication would raise concern.
  • Mobility: The child is ambulatory and able to move their fingers and limbs, which reduces the likelihood of venous stasis a major risk factor for DVT. In the absence of prolonged immobility or systemic hypercoagulability, there is minimal reason to suspect a thrombotic event based on mobility alone.


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Related Questions

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Rationale:

A. Establish a patent oral airway: The airway is the highest priority in trauma care, following the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation). Without a patent airway, the client cannot oxygenate properly, which can quickly become life-threatening.

B. Remove the client's clothing: This helps with full-body assessment and prevention of missed injuries, but it should only be done after ensuring the client’s airway and breathing are stable.

C. Warm blood products prior to administration: While this helps prevent hypothermia during transfusion, warming blood is not the immediate priority in a trauma situation. Circulation support follows airway and breathing in priority.

D. Assign the client a score on the Glasgow Coma Scale: Neurological assessment is important but comes after airway stabilization. The GCS helps evaluate consciousness but should not delay securing the airway in an emergency.

Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"C","dropdown-group-2":"B"}

Explanation

Rationale for Correct Choices:

  • Evaluating the fetal heart rate tracing: The client’s report of decreased fetal movement and severe hypertension raises concern for fetal compromise. Immediate fetal assessment ensures the fetus is tolerating the intrauterine environment, especially before administering medications like magnesium sulfate.
  • Administering magnesium sulfate IV: This is prescribed to prevent eclampsia, given the client’s severely elevated BP, hyperreflexia, and proteinuria. After confirming fetal status, seizure prophylaxis should be initiated without delay.

Rationale for Incorrect Choices:

  • Administering acetaminophen PO: Although ordered for headache, the symptom is a manifestation of severe preeclampsia. Treating it symptomatically without addressing its cause could delay necessary critical interventions.
  • Obtaining a 24-hour urine collection: Useful for confirming the extent of proteinuria, but not immediately necessary for clinical decision-making given existing positive findings.
  • Inserting an indwelling urinary catheter: This supports fluid monitoring during magnesium therapy, but fetal assessment and seizure prevention take precedence.
  • Administering betamethasone IM: Important for fetal lung development in preterm pregnancies, but it is not the immediate priority when there is a high risk for seizure or fetal distress.

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