While obtaining a client's health history related to smoking cigarettes, the nurse plans to determine the client's smoking pack years. What information should the nurse obtain for this calculation? Select all that apply.

Number of attempts to quit smoking.

Client's current age.

Age when the client started smoking.

Packs of cigarettes smoked per day.

Number of years the client smoked.

Answer and Explanation

Correct Answer : C,D,E

Answer: C. Age when the client started smoking.
Knowing when the client began smoking is essential for determining the total duration of smoking. This information allows the nurse to calculate how long the client has been exposed to tobacco, which is critical for assessing potential health risks associated with their smoking history.

D. Packs of cigarettes smoked per day.
This information is crucial as it directly contributes to the calculation of pack years. Understanding how many packs the client smokes each day helps quantify their level of tobacco exposure. For instance, smoking one pack per day for ten years results in ten pack years, while two packs per day over the same period would lead to twenty pack years.

E. Number of years the client smoked.
This detail is necessary to determine the total duration of the smoking habit. The total number of years smoked, combined with the daily pack consumption, provides a comprehensive view of the client's smoking history. It allows the nurse to assess the cumulative risk associated with long-term tobacco use, which is important for evaluating the client’s health and potential interventions.

Rationale for Options Not Selected:

A. Number of attempts to quit smoking.
While this information can provide insight into the client's motivation and efforts to quit, it is not relevant for calculating pack years. Pack years focus specifically on the amount and duration of smoking, rather than attempts to quit, which may be useful in assessing readiness for cessation interventions but does not factor into the calculation of exposure.

B. Client's current age.
Although the client's age can provide context regarding their smoking history, it is not necessary for the actual calculation of pack years. Instead, it is the age when the client started smoking, along with the total years smoked and the number of packs smoked per day, that are critical for this specific assessment. The current age is not needed to compute pack years directly.

Summary of Calculation:

To calculate pack years, use the formula:

Pack Years = (Number of packs smoked per day) × (Number of years smoked)

For example, if a client smoked 1 pack per day for 20 years, they would have 20 pack years. If they smoked 2 packs a day for the same period, that would equate to 40 pack years. This measurement is essential for understanding the health risks associated with smoking and guiding further assessment and intervention strategies.

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Correct Answer is ["A","D","E"]

Explanation

A) Palpate dorsal surface of feet for warmth:
Assessing the temperature of the dorsal surface of the feet helps determine peripheral circulation and can indicate whether the feet are indeed cold. Cold feet may suggest poor peripheral perfusion or circulation issues, which require further assessment.

B) Test feet for a positive Babinski reflex:
The Babinski reflex is typically tested to assess upper motor neuron dysfunction and is not directly relevant to evaluating the complaint of cold feet.

C) Measure skin elasticity around the ankles:
Measuring skin elasticity around the ankles may be relevant for assessing skin turgor and hydration status but is not specifically related to evaluating the client's complaint of cold feet.

D) Assess volume of the pedal pulses:
Assessing the volume of pedal pulses provides information about peripheral perfusion and circulation. Diminished or absent pedal pulses may indicate peripheral vascular disease or other circulatory issues contributing to cold feet. It's essential to evaluate the strength and symmetry of pedal pulses to determine peripheral vascular status.

E) Observe color of the feet and toes:
While observing the color of the feet and toes is important for assessing circulation and perfusion, it is not specific to evaluating the client's complaint of cold feet. However, color changes, such as pallor or cyanosis, may provide additional information about peripheral circulation and require further assessment.

A. Ask the client to describe any other related symptoms. B. Place the dorsum of the hand on the client's forehead. C. Use both hands to hold and palpate the client's hands. D. Lightly pinch a fold of skin over the client's sternum.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Answer: B. Place the dorsum of the hand on the client's forehead.

Rationale:

A) Ask the client to describe any other related symptoms.
While asking the client about symptoms related to fever, such as chills or sweating, can provide useful subjective information, it is not a reliable or objective method to confirm fever. Direct temperature measurement is needed for confirmation.

B) Place the dorsum of the hand on the client's forehead.
Placing the dorsum (back) of the hand on the client’s forehead is a common method to assess skin temperature. While this action provides a quick, non-invasive estimation of whether the client feels warm, it still requires confirmation with an actual temperature measurement using a thermometer for an objective assessment.

C) Use both hands to hold and palpate the client's hands.
Palpating the client's hands may provide information about extremity temperature or circulation, but it is not a reliable method for assessing core body temperature or confirming the presence of fever.

D) Lightly pinch a fold of skin over the client's sternum.
Pinching a fold of skin over the sternum assesses skin turgor, which is a measure of hydration and elasticity, not temperature. It does not provide any indication of whether the client has a fever.

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While obtaining a client's health history related to smoking cigarettes, the nurse plans to determine the client's smoking pack years. What information should the nurse obtain for this calculation? Select all that apply.

Summary of Calculation:

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

An older male client reports to the nurse that his feet are cold. Before covering the client's feet, which assessment(s) should the nurse complete? Select all that apply.

Correct Answer is ["A","D","E"]

Explanation

To objectively confirm the presence of fever, before taking the client's temperature, which action should the nurse take?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Rationale:

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