A nurse in a rural community is providing education to a group of clients about first aid interventions for snake bites to prevent further injury. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
Apply an ice pack directly to the affected area.
Immobilize the affected extremity with a splint.
Place a tourniquet above and below the affected area.
Elevate the affected extremity.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A Reason
Apply an ice pack directly to the affected area. This statement is incorrect. Applying ice to a snake bite can cause more harm than good. Ice can restrict blood flow and potentially increase tissue damage. The recommended approach is to keep the bite area still and at or below heart level to slow the spread of venom.
Choice B Reason
Immobilize the affected extremity with a splint. This is the correct intervention. Immobilizing the affected limb helps to slow the spread of venom by reducing movement. Keeping the limb still and using a splint can prevent the venom from circulating more rapidly through the body.
Choice C Reason
Place a tourniquet above and below the affected area. This statement is incorrect. Using a tourniquet is not recommended for snake bites as it can cause severe damage to the affected limb by cutting off blood flow completely. This can lead to tissue death and other complications.
Choice D Reason
Elevate the affected extremity. This statement is incorrect. Elevating the limb can increase the spread of venom. The affected limb should be kept at or below heart level to slow the venom’s spread.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
A urine specific gravity of 1.02 falls within the normal range (1.005 to 1.03) and indicates that the kidneys are excreting water appropriately. In SIADH, urine is typically concentrated due to excessive antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion. A normal urine specific gravity suggests that the ADH levels are normalizing and the condition is resolving.
Choice B Reason:
A sodium level of 119 mEq/L is significantly below the normal range (136 to 145 mEq/L) and indicates persistent hyponatremia. This finding suggests that the SIADH is not resolving, as effective treatment should lead to an increase in serum sodium levels.
Choice C Reason:
A BUN level of 8 mg/dL is slightly below the normal range (10 to 20 mg/dL) but is not a primary indicator of SIADH resolution. BUN levels can be influenced by various factors, including hydration status and renal function.
Choice D Reason:
A calcium level of 8.7 mg/dL is slightly below the normal range (9 to 10.5 mg/dL) but does not directly indicate the resolution of SIADH. Calcium levels are not typically used to monitor the effectiveness of SIADH treatment.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Reason
Lidocaine is primarily used to treat ventricular arrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It is not typically used for bradycardia (a heart rate of 40/min) and would not be appropriate for this scenario.
Choice B Reason
Adenosine is used to treat certain types of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) by slowing down the heart rate. It is not indicated for bradycardia and would not be suitable for a heart rate of 40/min.
Choice C Reason
Atropine is the first-line medication for treating symptomatic bradycardia. It works by blocking the effects of the vagus nerve on the heart, thereby increasing the heart rate. Given the client’s symptoms of a low heart rate, diaphoresis, and chest pain, atropine is the appropriate choice.
Choice D Reason
Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure, angina, and certain types of arrhythmias. However, it is not used for bradycardia and could potentially worsen the condition by further lowering the heart rate.
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