While changing a postoperative patient’s dressing, the nurse notices purulent drainage at the site.
Before reporting this to the healthcare provider, which of the patient’s lab values should the nurse check?
Hematocrit.
Neutrophil count.
Platelet count.
Serum sodium level.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale
Hematocrit is a measure of the proportion of red blood cells in the blood. While it can be affected by various conditions, it is not the most relevant lab value to check when purulent drainage is noticed at a postoperative patient’s dressing site.
Choice B rationale
Neutrophil count is a measure of the number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, in the blood. An elevated neutrophil count can indicate an infection, making it the most relevant lab value to check in this scenario.
Choice C rationale
Platelet count is a measure of the number of platelets in the blood. While platelets play a crucial role in blood clotting, they are not directly related to infection and therefore not the most relevant lab value to check in this scenario.
Choice D rationale
Serum sodium level is a measure of the amount of sodium in the blood. While it can be affected by various conditions, it is not the most relevant lab value to check when purulent drainage is noticed at a postoperative patient’s dressing site.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Printing the electronic medical record (EMR) from the backup server may not be the most immediate action required. While having a backup of the EMR is important, it does not address the immediate issue of the system failure.
Choice B rationale
Waiting for notification that the system has been rebooted is a passive approach and may not be the most effective initial action. It does not address the immediate need to communicate the issue to the appropriate department.
Choice C rationale
Identifying information as a late entry in the record is a documentation practice that is used when charting is not completed in a timely manner. However, this action does not address the immediate issue of the system failure.
Choice D rationale
Notifying the information services department of the situation is the correct action. This allows the appropriate department to begin troubleshooting and resolving the issue. In the event of a system failure, the first step should be to report the issue so that it can be addressed as quickly as possible.
Correct Answer is ["A","B","C","D","F"]
Explanation
A.Bone misalignment- The nurse’s notes mention that the collarbone appears out of alignment on the left side. This could indicate a fracture or dislocation and should be investigated further.
B.Decreased range of motion- The client reports an inability to move his left arm. This could be due to the pain or a result of the injury and should be investigated further.
C.Left arm that is cool to touch- Decreased temperature in a limb can indicate poor circulation, which could be a result of the injury. This should be investigated further.
D.Swelling at the site of injury- Swelling and bruising are present on the client’s shoulder. This is a common sign of injury and should be investigated further.
E.Blood pressure of 136/90 mm Hg- While this blood pressure is not extremely high, it is on the higher end of normal. Given the client’s age and the stress of the situation, it would be worth monitoring.
F.Intense pain reported by client- The client reports a pain rating of 10 on a 0 to 10 scale in the left arm. This level of pain is concerning and should be addressed.
G.Oxygen saturation 95% on room air- While an oxygen saturation of 95% is within the normal range, given the client’s recent trauma and reported nausea, it would be prudent to monitor this closely.
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