The practical nurse (PN) is assessing an older client with left-sided heart failure (HF). What intervention is most important for the PN to implement?
Inspect for sacral edema.
Measure urinary output.
Auscultate all lung fields.
Check mental acuity.
Check mental acuity.
The Correct Answer is C
When assessing an older client with left-sided heart failure (HF), the most important intervention for the practical nurse (PN) to implement is to auscultate all lung fields. Left-sided heart failure is characterized by the inability of the left ventricle to effectively pump blood, leading to fluid accumulation in the lungs. Auscultating all lung fields allows the PN to assess for the presence of abnormal lung sounds such as crackles, indicating pulmonary congestion.

In summary, when assessing an older client with left-sided heart failure, the most important intervention for the practical nurse (PN) to implement is to auscultate all lung fields. This allows for the detection of abnormal lung sounds associated with pulmonary congestion, a hallmark sign of left-sided heart failure.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Smokeless tobacco, such as chewing tobacco or snuff, still contains harmful substances, including nicotine and various chemicals. It is associated with several health risks, including an increased risk of oral, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers, as well as gum disease, tooth loss, and nicotine addiction.
Incorrect:
A. By providing this information, the nurse can help the client make an informed decision about their smoking cessation plan. It is crucial to emphasize that quitting tobacco altogether is the best approach to reduce the risk of cancer and improve overall health.
C. The nurse should not encourage the client to continue with the plan to switch to smokeless tobacco as a means of reducing the risk for cancer. Instead, the focus should be on supporting the client's efforts to quit tobacco entirely and providing appropriate resources and interventions to facilitate smoking cessation.
D. Addressing the concern about weight gain when quitting smoking is also important, but it should be done in the context of promoting healthy lifestyle changes and offering strategies to manage weight during the smoking cessation process.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Taking a rectal temperature requires a higher level of skill and carries a higher risk of injury compared to other methods, especially when dealing with a 2-year-old child with leukemia. Given the client's condition, it is important to minimize any potential harm or discomfort. Taking a tympanic temperature is a safer alternative that provides an accurate reading without the risk of injury.
B. Reminding the UAP to lubricate the thermometer before insertion is not appropriate because the PN should not encourage or support the UAP in performing a rectal temperature on a high-risk client. The focus should be on using a safer and less invasive method.
C. Instructing the UAP to report the results to the PN immediately is not necessary in this situation because the PN has already determined that taking a rectal temperature is not appropriate.
Instead, the PN should guide the UAP toward using the tympanic method.
D. Observing the UAP to ensure the thermometer is inserted correctly is not appropriate in this case because the PN has already determined that taking a rectal temperature is not the recommended course of action. It is more appropriate to redirect the UAP to use an alternative method.

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