The practical nurse (PN) is assisting with the admission of a client with complications of left-sided heart failure. Which focused assessment should the PN implement first?
Heart sounds
Chest pain
Bilateral lung sounds
Mood and affect
The Correct Answer is C
c) Bilateral lung sounds.
Explanation:
When admitting a client with complications of left-sided heart failure, the practical nurse (PN) should prioritize assessing the client's bilateral lung sounds. Left-sided heart failure can result in the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, leading to pulmonary congestion and impaired gas exchange. By auscultating the client's lung sounds, the PN can assess for the presence of crackles, wheezes, or diminished breath sounds, which are indicative of pulmonary congestion and fluid accumulation. This assessment helps to identify the severity of the client's condition and guides further interventions and treatment.
While assessing heart sounds (option a) is important in evaluating cardiac function, assessing lung sounds takes priority as pulmonary congestion is a common manifestation of left-sided heart failure. Chest pain (option b) is a significant symptom that should be assessed promptly, but in this scenario, the focus is on assessing for signs of pulmonary congestion and impaired gas exchange. Assessing the client's mood and affect (option d) is important for a comprehensive assessment, but it is not the priority when the client is admited with complications of left-sided heart failure.
The other options are considered incorrect because they are not the priority assessments when admitting a client with complications of left-sided heart failure.
Option a) Heart sounds: While assessing heart sounds is important in evaluating cardiac function, the priority in this scenario is to assess for pulmonary congestion and impaired gas exchange. Assessing bilateral lung sounds allows the practical nurse to gather immediate information about the client's respiratory status and the presence of fluid in the lungs.
Option b) Chest pain: Chest pain is a significant symptom that should be assessed promptly, as it could indicate various cardiac or respiratory conditions. However, in this specific scenario, the priority is to assess for signs of pulmonary congestion, which can have a more immediate impact on the client's respiratory function.
Option d) Mood and affect: Assessing the client's mood and affect is important for a comprehensive assessment of their emotional well-being. However, when admitting a client with complications of left- sided heart failure, the priority is to assess their physical condition, particularly the respiratory status, to address any immediate concerns related to pulmonary congestion and impaired gas exchange.
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Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Administering corticosteroids is not an action that the nurse implements to increase venous return, prevent stiffness, and maintain muscle strength and endurance because it is a medication that reduces inflammation and relieves acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis, but does not affect the client's physical function or mobility.
Choice B reason: Turning and repositioning every 2 hours is not an action that the nurse implements to increase venous return, prevent stiffness, and maintain muscle strength and endurance because it is a nursing intervention that prevents pressure ulcers and promotes skin integrity, but does not enhance the client's circulation or muscle activity.
Choice C reason: Administering interferon is not an action that the nurse implements to increase venous return, prevent stiffness, and maintain muscle strength and endurance because it is a medication that modifies the immune system and delays the progression of multiple sclerosis, but does not improve the client's physical function or mobility.
Choice D reason: Encouraging range-of-motion exercises is an action that the nurse implements to increase venous return, prevent stiffness, and maintain muscle strength and endurance because it is a physical activity that improves the client's blood flow, flexibility, and muscle tone, as well as prevents contractures and spasticity.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Analgesics are not the most effective classification of medications for treating this pain because they are drugs that relieve pain by blocking pain signals or reducing inflammation, but they do not address the underlying cause of trigeminal neuralgia, which is compression or irritation of the trigeminal nervE.
Choice B reason: Antihistamines are not the most effective classification of medications for treating this pain because they are drugs that block histamine receptors and reduce allergic reactions, but they do not affect the function or activity of the trigeminal nervE.
Choice C reason: Antibiotics are not the most effective classification of medications for treating this pain because they are drugs that kill or inhibit bacteria and treat infections, but they do not treat trigeminal neuralgia unless it is caused by a bacterial infection, which is rarE.
Choice D reason: Anticonvulsants are the most effective classification of medications for treating this pain because they are drugs that stabilize nerve membranes and reduce nerve impulses, which can decrease the frequency and intensity of trigeminal neuralgia attacks
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