The patient who is confined to bed in the supine position has gained 5 lbs. in the last 48 hours. In which area does the nurse assess skin turgor for accurate determination of dependent edema?
Foot
Forehead
Ankle
Chest
Sacrum
The Correct Answer is E
Dependent edema refers to the accumulation of fluid in the dependent parts of the body, which are areas that are most affected by gravity when a person is in a supine or sitting position for an extended period. The sacrum, which is the triangular bone at the base of the spine, is one such dependent area. It is prone to developing edema when there is increased fluid retention in the body, as seen in the patient's weight gain.
To assess for dependent edema accurately, the nurse can gently press the skin over the sacral area with their fingers and observe the skin turgor or the return of the skin to its normal position after releasing the pressure. If there is edema, the skin may have reduced elasticity and take longer to return to its normal position (poor skin turgor).
While edema can occur in other dependent areas such as the feet, ankles, and lower legs, assessing skin turgor in these areas may not provide an accurate determination of dependent edema as they are located further away from the sacrum and may be influenced by other factors.

Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The red tag is used to identify patients with critical injuries who require immediate medical attention. These individuals have life-threatening conditions that, with prompt medical intervention, have a higher chance of survival.
The triage color code system typically follows the following priority order:
1. Red tag: Immediate or emergent care needed for life-threatening injuries or conditions.
2. Yellow tag: Urgent care needed for significant injuries or conditions that are not immediately life-threatening.
3. Green tag: Non-urgent care needed for minor injuries or illnesses that can wait for medical treatment.
4. Black tag: Comfort care or deceased, as the injuries or conditions are incompatible with life or resources are not available for treatment.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
To calculate the milliliters per hour (mL/hr) for the IV infusion, you divide the total volume (in milliliters) by the total time (in hours).
In this case, the total volume is 1 liter, which is equal to 1000 milliliters, and the total time is 6 hours.
So, you divide 1000 mL by 6 hours:
1000 mL / 6 hours = 166.67 mL/hr
Rounding off, the nurse will program the IV infusion device to infuse at approximately 167 mL/hr.
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