The nurse notices a yellow stain around fluid dripping from a patient’s ear who sustained a traumatic brain injury. The nurse's priority intervention will be as follows:

prevent the drainage by applying a tight pressure dressing

administer antibiotics due to increased risk of infection

allow fluid to drain from the patient's car onto gauze and notify

hang intravenous (IV) fluids to replace fluids lost and prevent dehydration

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

A) Prevent the drainage by applying a tight pressure dressing:
Applying a tight pressure dressing is not the appropriate intervention in this case. The presence of fluid draining from the ear, particularly a yellow stain, could indicate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, which is a potential sign of a skull fracture or traumatic brain injury (TBI) involving the base of the skull. Applying a tight pressure dressing could potentially increase pressure or cause further injury.

B) Administer antibiotics due to increased risk of infection:
While there is an increased risk of infection with a CSF leak, antibiotics should not be administered immediately unless there is clear evidence of an infection. The priority action is to identify whether the fluid is CSF, as antibiotics alone will not address the underlying issue of a CSF leak. The nurse should allow the fluid to drain, collect a sample, and notify the healthcare provider for further assessment, which may include imaging or testing for the presence of CSF.

C) Allow fluid to drain from the patient's ear onto gauze and notify the healthcare provider:
The yellow stain around the fluid dripping from the patient's ear suggests the possibility of CSF leakage, a sign of a skull base fracture. CSF leakage may occur after a traumatic brain injury and should be handled carefully. The nurse's priority action is to allow the fluid to drain onto gauze to prevent the buildup of pressure and to prevent further leakage into the ear canal. The nurse should also immediately notify the healthcare provider for further evaluation and management.

D) Hang intravenous (IV) fluids to replace fluids lost and prevent dehydration:
While IV fluids may be necessary in some cases for patients with trauma, the priority in this situation is to identify the source and nature of the drainage. If the fluid is CSF, it may be important to manage the leak appropriately rather than focusing solely on replacing fluids. The nurse should first confirm whether the fluid is CSF and notify the healthcare provider for further assessment and management. Replacing fluids may be necessary, but it is not the immediate priority.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A) Prolonged prothrombin time (PT):
A prolonged PT is a sign of impaired coagulation, which is common in DIC as the clotting factors are consumed. In DIC, both clotting and bleeding occur, leading to prolonged PT. Therefore, a prolonged PT does not reflect a positive outcome. A positive outcome would show normalization or improvement of the clotting profile.

B) Elevated fibrinogen level:
Fibrinogen is often decreased in DIC because it is consumed in the process of forming clots. An elevated fibrinogen level would not indicate a positive outcome in DIC. Instead, fibrinogen levels typically fall in DIC due to widespread clotting activity. A positive outcome would involve a normalization or increase in fibrinogen levels as the condition improves.

C) Decreased platelet count:
Platelet count typically decreases in DIC because platelets are used up in the formation of clots, leading to thrombocytopenia. A decreased platelet count reflects ongoing consumption of platelets and would not be a positive indicator of improvement. In a positive outcome, the platelet count would increase toward normal levels.

D) Decreased D-dimer level:
D-dimer is a product of fibrin degradation and is elevated in conditions like DIC, where abnormal clotting and fibrinolysis are occurring. A decreased D-dimer level indicates that the coagulation process is resolving, and fibrin degradation is returning to normal, reflecting a positive outcome. Monitoring the D-dimer level is a key indicator of improvement in DIC.

A. O- B. AB - C. A+ D. A- E. O+

Correct Answer is ["A","D"]

Explanation

A) O- (O negative):
A person with blood type A- can safely receive blood from a universal donor blood type, which is O-. This is because O- has no A, B, or Rh antigens on the surface of its red blood cells, making it compatible with any ABO blood group. The Rh negative status is also compatible, as the recipient is also Rh-negative.

B) AB- (AB negative):
A person with blood type A- cannot receive blood from someone with AB-. This is because the AB- blood type contains both A and B antigens on the surface of red blood cells, which could cause an immune reaction in a person with A- blood, whose immune system will react against the B antigen. Therefore, AB- is not compatible with A- blood.

C) A+ (A positive):
A person with A- blood cannot receive blood from an A+ donor, because the A+ blood contains the Rh positive antigen. If a person with A- blood receives Rh-positive blood, they will form antibodies against the Rh factor, leading to a hemolytic transfusion reaction. Therefore, A+ is not compatible with A- blood.

D) A- (A negative):
A person with A- blood can receive blood from another A- donor, because both share the A antigen and are Rh-negative. This is a perfect match and poses no risk of a transfusion reaction.

E) O+ (O positive):
A person with A- blood cannot receive blood from an O+ donor, because the O+ blood contains the Rh-positive antigen. This could cause an immune reaction in a person with A- blood, leading to the production of anti-Rh antibodies. Therefore, O+ is not compatible with A- blood.

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The nurse notices a yellow stain around fluid dripping from a patient’s ear who sustained a traumatic brain injury. The nurse's priority intervention will be as follows:

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is evaluating the outcomes for a client diagnosed with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Which laboratory value reflects a positive outcome?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

The nurse is preparing to administer a unit of packed red blood cells (PRBC's) to a patient whose blood type is A- (negative). The nurse knows that this patient can receive transfusions from which blood types? (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY).

Correct Answer is ["A","D"]

Explanation

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