A client who is admitted after an episode of status epilepticus is stabilized. Which finding should the nurse use to determine the client's risk for recurrence of seizure activity?

Type of anticonvulsant prescribed.

History of a recent illness.

Therapeutic level of medication.

Duration of previous seizure activity.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

A. Type of anticonvulsant prescribed: While the class or type of anticonvulsant influences seizure control, it does not directly indicate whether the client is receiving a sufficient dosage. The therapeutic effectiveness depends more on blood concentration than classification.

B. History of a recent illness: Acute illness can temporarily lower the seizure threshold, but it is a less specific indicator for predicting recurrence than pharmacologic control. The underlying condition must be assessed, but medication levels are more predictive of seizure risk.

C. Therapeutic level of medication: A subtherapeutic drug level is a strong predictor of seizure recurrence. Maintaining an adequate plasma concentration ensures optimal seizure control and is crucial in clients recovering from status epilepticus, where precise management is essential.

D. Duration of previous seizure activity: The length of the prior seizure can indicate severity but not the likelihood of recurrence. Even brief seizures can recur if anticonvulsant levels are inadequate, so duration is not as clinically useful as drug level monitoring.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Tenderness: Tenderness during percussion could indicate an underlying issue, such as inflammation or infection, and is not a normal finding.

B. Pain: Pain during percussion may suggest problems like organ inflammation or distension and is not considered normal.

C. Musical and drumlike: This finding is normal and is often indicative of the presence of air or gas in the intestines, which is a common finding in older adults, especially those with less efficient digestion.

D. Absent sounds: Absent sounds could indicate bowel obstruction or other serious issues and are not a normal finding. Normal percussive sounds should be heard.

A. The client reports he was able to sleep through the night B. The client notes continued numbness in his left arm, along with a tingling sensation, and is not able to move his fingers. C. The client reports mild nausea and has no desire to eat breakfast D. There is a 1.18 in (3 cm) by 1.97 in (5 cm) area of blood noted on the bandage E. The left arm is warm to touch. The client's left shoulder and collarbone are symmetric

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

Explanation

Rationale for Correct Choices:

The nurse assesses the client. The client reports he was able to sleep through the night:
Being able to sleep through the night suggests that the client’s pain is adequately managed, indicating progress in terms of pain control post-surgery or trauma care.
The left arm is warm to touch: The warmth of the left arm indicates that circulation has improved from initially cool to touch. This is a positive sign, as it suggests that there are no significant vascular complications following the fracture or trauma.
The client's left shoulder and collarbone are symmetric: Symmetry of the shoulder and collarbone suggests that there is no new displacement or injury to the bones post-trauma or surgery. This is a good sign indicating that the fracture is properly stabilized.

Rationale for Incorrect Choices:

The client notes continued numbness in his left arm, along with a tingling sensation, and is not able to move his fingers: The numbness, tingling, and inability to move his fingers may indicate nerve involvement, which could be a sign of complications such as nerve compression or injury due to the fracture.
The client reports mild nausea and has no desire to eat breakfast: Mild nausea is expected after anesthesia or pain medications, but continued lack of appetite or worsening nausea may signal complications, such as a delayed reaction to anesthesia or a side effect from medication, which should be monitored.
There is a 1.18 in (3 cm) by 1.97 in (5 cm) area of blood noted on the bandage: While some blood may be expected post-surgery or after trauma, a blood stain of this size should be evaluated for any indication of active bleeding or complications such as hematoma formation. It may not be expected if the bleeding had been controlled.

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A client who is admitted after an episode of status epilepticus is stabilized. Which finding should the nurse use to determine the client's risk for recurrence of seizure activity?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse completes percussion of the abdomen on an older adult client. Which finding is considered normal for this client?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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

Explanation

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