The nurse understands the primary assessment for a patient following a major trauma:

includes the head-to-toe anterior and posterior assessment

focuses on the ABCDE's to identify life threating problems

includes the use of a standard pain scale and past medical/surgical history

consists of analyzing the results of the diagnostic testing

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

A) Includes the head-to-toe anterior and posterior assessment:
While a head-to-toe physical assessment is important in trauma care, it is not the first priority. The primary assessment focuses on immediate life-threatening conditions, and the head-to-toe assessment would come after the initial stabilization of the patient's airway, breathing, circulation, and disability. A comprehensive physical examination is crucial but secondary to addressing urgent life threats.

B) Focuses on the ABCDE's to identify life-threatening problems:
The ABCDE's (Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure) are the primary framework for assessing and stabilizing a trauma patient. This approach is used to identify and prioritize life-threatening problems. It ensures that the most critical issues, such as airway obstruction, respiratory failure, shock, and neurological deficits, are addressed first. This protocol is the gold standard in trauma care and is the most appropriate initial assessment in major trauma.

C) Includes the use of a standard pain scale and past medical/surgical history:
While it is important to assess pain and gather a medical history in the trauma patient, these are secondary considerations after addressing immediate threats to life. Pain management and obtaining a full history are crucial, but they are not as urgent as addressing airway, breathing, and circulation issues. These should be part of a more detailed secondary assessment once the patient is stable.

D) Consists of analyzing the results of the diagnostic testing:
Diagnostic testing, such as imaging studies and lab work, are important but are not the first priority. The primary assessment should focus on the ABCDE's. Diagnostic results are typically analyzed after the patient is stabilized, as they provide additional information but do not address immediate survival needs.

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

Explanation

A) Tachycardia: Tachycardia is commonly seen in left-sided heart failure as the heart attempts to compensate for the reduced cardiac output. To maintain adequate perfusion, the body increases the heart rate. The sympathetic nervous system is activated, causing an increase in heart rate to try to pump blood more efficiently despite the reduced pumping ability of the left ventricle.

B) Crackles: Crackles (also known as rales) are typically heard upon auscultation of the lungs in patients with left-sided heart failure. When the left ventricle fails to effectively pump blood, it causes blood to back up into the lungs, resulting in pulmonary congestion. This leads to fluid accumulation in the alveoli, causing crackling sounds during inhalation.

C) Ascites: Ascites is more commonly seen in right-sided heart failure or in cases of congestive heart failure where both sides of the heart are affected. Ascites is the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, which is a consequence of right-sided heart failure causing blood to back up into the abdomen. In left-sided heart failure, ascites is generally not a primary symptom unless the failure becomes severe and involves both sides of the heart.

D) Dyspnea: Dyspnea, or shortness of breath, is a hallmark symptom of left-sided heart failure. The left ventricle's inability to pump blood efficiently leads to pulmonary congestion, which causes fluid to accumulate in the lungs. This fluid buildup reduces the lung's ability to exchange oxygen, resulting in difficulty breathing, especially on exertion or when lying down (orthopnea).

E) Peripheral edema: Peripheral edema is more characteristic of right-sided heart failure due to the backup of blood in the systemic circulation. While it can occur in cases of biventricular heart failure (both right and left sides of the heart are affected), it is not the primary finding in left-sided heart failure. Left-sided heart failure typically presents with pulmonary symptoms rather than systemic symptoms like peripheral edema.

A. Determine when the patient last ate and call for spiritual advisor B. Assess vital signs and immediately notify the trauma surgeon C. Request an order for a chest x-ray and stop IV fluids D. Medicate the patient's pain and obtain consent for surgery

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A) Determine when the patient last ate and call for spiritual advisor:
While it is important to gather a comprehensive history, including when the patient last ate, and to provide emotional support such as calling a spiritual advisor, these actions are not the priority in this situation. The immediate concern is the patient's physical condition and addressing the potential trauma to the chest and abdominal organs. Bowel sounds in the chest suggest a serious injury, such as a diaphragmatic rupture, which requires immediate surgical intervention.

B) Assess vital signs and immediately notify the trauma surgeon:
Hearing bowel sounds in the chest is a strong indication of a diaphragmatic injury, possibly a rupture, which can lead to the bowel being displaced into the chest cavity. This is a life-threatening emergency that can result in respiratory distress, impaired organ function, and infection. The nurse should assess vital signs to determine if the patient is stable or in shock and then immediately notify the trauma surgeon to facilitate urgent surgical intervention. Immediate surgical repair is necessary to prevent further complications such as respiratory compromise or sepsis.

C) Request an order for a chest x-ray and stop IV fluids:
A chest x-ray may be ordered later to confirm the presence of diaphragmatic injury or other chest trauma, but the priority action is to notify the trauma surgeon immediately. Stopping IV fluids is not appropriate in this situation; the patient likely needs continued fluid resuscitation, especially if they are in shock or have significant blood loss from their traumatic injuries.

D) Medicate the patient's pain and obtain consent for surgery:
Pain management is important for the patient’s comfort, but surgical intervention should not be delayed while obtaining consent. The trauma surgeon should be notified immediately, and surgery should be expedited without waiting for consent. In trauma cases, consent for life-saving procedures may be implied if the patient is unconscious or unable to provide consent due to the urgency of the situation.

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The nurse understands the primary assessment for a patient following a major trauma:

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is performing an assessment of a client admitted with left sided heart failure. Which dinical manifestation(s) would the nurse expect to identify? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)

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

Explanation

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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