The nurse provides care for a client with a hemoglobin of 8 g/dL (80 g/L) due to acute blood loss. Which finding does the nurse expect to assess?
Shallow respirations and a smooth, beefy red tongue
Facial flushing with distended neck veins
Bilateral numbness and tingling of the extremities
Increased heart rate and decreased mental alertness
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: Shallow respirations and a smooth, beefy red tongue are not the expected findings because they are signs of pernicious anemia, not acute blood loss. Pernicious anemia is a condition where the body cannot produce enough red blood cells due to a lack of vitamin B12, which is needed for DNA synthesis and cell division. Pernicious anemia can cause shallow respirations due to hypoxia, which is a low level of oxygen in the tissues, and a smooth, beefy red tongue due to atrophy of the tongue papillae, which are the small projections that give the tongue its rough texture.
Choice B reason: Facial flushing with distended neck veins are not the expected findings because they are signs of polycythemia, not acute blood loss. Polycythemia is a condition where the body produces too many red blood cells, which increases the blood volume and the blood viscosity, making the blood thicker and harder to flow. Polycythemia can cause facial flushing due to increased blood flow to the skin, and distended neck veins due to increased pressure in the venous system.
Choice C reason: Bilateral numbness and tingling of the extremities are not the expected findings because they are signs of peripheral neuropathy, not acute blood loss. Peripheral neuropathy is a condition where the nerves that carry signals from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body are damaged or impaired, causing sensory and motor disturbances. Peripheral neuropathy can cause bilateral numbness and tingling of the extremities due to reduced nerve conduction and sensation.
Choice D reason: Increased heart rate and decreased mental alertness are the expected findings because they are signs of acute blood loss. Acute blood loss is a condition where the body loses a large amount of blood in a short period of time, which reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and the tissue perfusion. Acute blood loss can cause increased heart rate due to the compensatory mechanism of the body to increase the cardiac output and maintain the blood pressure, and decreased mental alertness due to the reduced oxygen delivery to the brain.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Lymph structures were removed and fluid cannot move out of the area easily is the correct explanation because a radical mastectomy involves the removal of the breast, the underlying chest muscles, and the lymph nodes in the axilla. The lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system, which is responsible for draining excess fluid from the tissues and returning it to the bloodstream. When the lymph nodes are removed, the fluid cannot be drained properly and accumulates in the affected arm and hand, causing edema.
Choice B reason: There is still too much swelling in the area of the surgery and fluid is accumulating is not the correct explanation because it does not address the underlying cause of the edema. Swelling is a normal response to surgery, but it usually subsides within a few days or weeks. The edema caused by lymph node removal is chronic and persistent, and it does not improve with time.
Choice C reason: The veins were removed from the axilla during surgery and there is poor circulation now is not the correct explanation because it is not true. The veins are not removed during a radical mastectomy, only the lymph nodes are. The veins are part of the circulatory system, which carries blood throughout the body. The blood flow to the arm and hand is not affected by the surgery, unless there is a complication such as a blood clot or an infection.
Choice D reason: You will need to wear a compression bandage to help fluids move from the area is not the correct explanation because it is a treatment, not a cause. A compression bandage is a type of elastic bandage that applies pressure to the arm and hand, which helps to reduce the swelling and prevent further fluid accumulation. However, it does not address the root cause of the edema, which is the removal of the lymph nodes.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: A sacculated aneurysm in the circle of Willis is not the most likely cause of a left-sided embolic stroke. A sacculated aneurysm is a bulging of a weak spot in the wall of an artery, which may occur in the circle of Willis, a network of arteries at the base of the brain. A sacculated aneurysm may cause a hemorrhagic stroke, which is a bleeding into the brain, not an embolic stroke, which is a blockage of a blood vessel by a clot.
Choice B reason: Rupture of small cerebral blood vessels is not the most likely cause of a left-sided embolic stroke. Rupture of small cerebral blood vessels may occur due to hypertension, diabetes, or aging, which may damage the integrity of the blood vessel walls. Rupture of small cerebral blood vessels may cause a hemorrhagic stroke, which is a bleeding into the brain, not an embolic stroke, which is a blockage of a blood vessel by a clot.
Choice C reason: Diffuse inflammation of the small diameter blood vessels is not the most likely cause of a left-sided embolic stroke. Diffuse inflammation of the small diameter blood vessels may occur due to vasculitis, which is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation and narrowing of the blood vessels. Diffuse inflammation of the small diameter blood vessels may cause a thrombotic stroke, which is a formation of a clot within the blood vessel, not an embolic stroke, which is a blockage of a blood vessel by a clot that travels from another site.
Choice D reason: Migration of a clot from the left atrium of the heart is the best explanation for the most likely cause of a left-sided embolic stroke. An embolic stroke is a type of ischemic stroke, which is a lack of blood flow to the brain due to a blockage of a blood vessel by a clot. A clot may form in the left atrium of the heart due to conditions such as atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular heartbeat that causes blood to pool and clot in the heart. A clot may then break off and travel through the bloodstream until it reaches a smaller blood vessel in the brain, where it causes an embolic stroke.
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