The nurse measures the client’s blood pressure (BP) and notes that it is significantly higher than the previous reading. Which should the nurse do next? (Select all that apply)
Immediately take 2 more readings on the same arm.
Assign the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to recheck the BP in an hour.
Retake the client’s blood pressure in the opposite arm.
Ask another nurse to assist in assessing for an apical-radial pulse deficit.
Determine the client’s activity and feelings prior to the BP measurement.
Correct Answer : A,C,E
Choice A reason: Taking two more readings confirms elevated BP, as a single reading may reflect technique errors or transient factors like pain, which increase sympathetic activity and vasoconstriction. Multiple readings ensure accuracy, critical for diagnosing hypertension and guiding intervention to prevent cardiovascular complications like stroke.
Choice B reason: Assigning a UAP to recheck BP in an hour delays assessment of potentially dangerous hypertension, which risks acute complications like myocardial ischemia. Immediate confirmation is needed, as elevated BP from norepinephrine release increases vascular resistance, making delayed rechecking inappropriate for urgent evaluation.
Choice C reason: Retaking BP in the opposite arm verifies accuracy, as differences may indicate arterial occlusion. Elevated BP increases catecholamine-driven vascular resistance. Measuring both arms rules out localized issues, ensuring reliable data to guide management of hypertension, critical to prevent end-organ damage like renal failure.
Choice D reason: Assessing apical-radial pulse deficit is relevant for atrial fibrillation, not directly for elevated BP. Hypertension results from increased vascular resistance, not pulse discrepancies. Confirming BP and assessing context are more immediate to determine urgency, making this less relevant than verifying readings or identifying triggers.
Choice E reason: Determining activity and feelings identifies transient BP elevation causes, like stress or exercise, which raise norepinephrine, increasing heart rate and vascular tone. This contextualizes the reading, differentiating situational from chronic hypertension, ensuring appropriate intervention to manage cardiovascular risk and guide further assessment.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Discontinuing the nasal cannula is inappropriate, as 94% SpO₂ indicates mild hypoxemia from pneumonia, requiring oxygen to support alveolar diffusion. The rash likely results from cannula pressure, not oxygen delivery. Padding addresses the rash without compromising respiratory support, ensuring continued therapy.
Choice B reason: Decreasing to 1 L/minute may worsen hypoxemia in pneumonia, where inflamed alveoli impair gas exchange (SpO₂ 94%). The rash is from mechanical irritation, not flow rate. Padding relieves pressure, maintaining oxygen delivery to improve saturation, making flow reduction counterproductive to respiratory needs.
Choice C reason: Applying lubricant reduces friction but not pressure causing the red macular rash from prolonged cannula contact. Lubricants risk aspiration. Padding alleviates pressure points, preventing skin breakdown while maintaining oxygen for pneumonia, addressing the rash’s mechanical cause more effectively than lubrication.
Choice D reason: Placing padding around the cannula tubing relieves pressure on the cheek, preventing skin breakdown from the red macular rash. This maintains oxygen at 3 L/minute, critical for pneumonia’s hypoxemia, where inflamed alveoli reduce oxygen diffusion. Padding ensures skin integrity and respiratory support, addressing both issues effectively.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Delaying smoking for one hour is arbitrary and does not address smoking’s risks post-surgery. Nicotine causes vasoconstriction, reducing wound perfusion, and carbon monoxide impairs oxygen delivery, delaying healing. Advising against smoking mitigates these risks, promoting recovery, making this response less effective than cessation advice.
Choice B reason: Allowing smoking in a wheelchair ignores postoperative risks. Nicotine’s vasoconstriction reduces tissue oxygenation, and carbon monoxide lowers hemoglobin’s capacity, impairing healing. This increases infection or thrombosis risk. Advising against smoking addresses these physiological harms, prioritizing wound recovery over facilitating smoking, which is detrimental.
Choice C reason: Smoking in the room violates hospital safety and exposes others to secondhand smoke. Nicotine and carbon monoxide reduce tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery, delaying postoperative healing. Advising against smoking prevents these complications, ensuring better recovery, making this response unsafe and inappropriate for surgical patients.
Choice D reason: Advising against smoking is critical, as nicotine causes vasoconstriction, reducing blood flow to surgical sites, and carbon monoxide impairs oxygen delivery, delaying healing. These increase infection and thrombosis risks post-surgery. This response promotes optimal recovery, addressing physiological needs for wound healing in the critical 24-hour period.
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
Report Wrong Answer on the Current Question
Do you disagree with the answer? If yes, what is your expected answer? Explain.
Kindly be descriptive with the issue you are facing.
