Which action should the nurse take first when a patient is seen in the outpatient clinic with neck pain?
Ask about numbness or tingling of the hands and arms.
Suggest the patient alternate use of heat and cold to the neck.
Provide information about therapeutic neck exercises.
Teach about the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason: Asking about numbness or tingling is important to rule out neurological issues that could be causing the neck pain.
Choice B reason: While heat and cold therapy may provide relief, it is not the first action to take before assessing the cause of the pain.
Choice C reason: Providing information about exercises is helpful but should come after an initial assessment.
Choice D reason: Teaching about NSAIDs is part of pain management but should follow an assessment of symptoms and potential causes.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Recording the client's intake and output is important but not the highest priority in an unconscious patient following a cerebral hemorrhage.
Choice B reason: Performing passive range of motion exercises is a lower priority compared to maintaining a patent airway.
Choice C reason: Suctioning saliva from the client's mouth is the highest priority to maintain airway patency and prevent aspiration, which is critical for an unconscious patient.
Choice D reason: Monitoring the client's electrolyte levels is important but secondary to immediate life-saving interventions such as maintaining airway patency.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: An embolic stroke is caused by an embolus traveling to the brain and blocking a blood vessel. The symptoms described do not specifically indicate an embolic stroke.
Choice B reason: A hemorrhagic stroke, which is bleeding within the brain, often presents with a sudden, severe headache, vomiting, and a change in consciousness, aligning with the symptoms described.
Choice C reason: A thrombotic stroke is caused by a thrombus forming in a blood vessel in the brain. While it can cause similar symptoms, the sudden severe headache is more characteristic of a hemorrhagic stroke.
Choice D reason: A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain. The symptoms usually resolve within minutes to hours and do not typically include a severe headache or vomiting.
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