A nurse in an outpatient clinic is assisting with the care of a client.
Complete the diagram by dragging from the choices below to specify what condition the client is most likely experiencing, 2 actions the nurse should take to address that condition, and 2 parameters the nurse should monitor to assess the client's progress.
The Correct Answer is []
Potential Condition:
- Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage deterioration, leading to pain, stiffness, and crepitus in affected joints. The client’s symptoms of localized pain in the right knee and left wrist, along with crepitus, are hallmark features of osteoarthritis. The absence of systemic symptoms, such as fever or fatigue, further supports this diagnosis. Additionally, the client’s age and lack of widespread joint involvement are consistent with osteoarthritis rather than an inflammatory condition.
Actions to Take:
- Instruct the client to apply heat. Heat application helps relieve pain and stiffness in osteoarthritis by increasing blood flow, relaxing muscles, and reducing joint discomfort. This is particularly useful for chronic joint conditions where stiffness worsens with inactivity.
- Instruct the client to avoid foods high in purines. Although osteoarthritis itself is not directly related to uric acid levels, the client’s elevated uric acid suggests a risk for gouty arthritis. Avoiding purine-rich foods such as red meat, seafood, and alcohol can help prevent the development of gout, which could worsen joint symptoms.
Parameters to Monitor:
- Monitoring mobility is essential in osteoarthritis as it progressively worsens over time. Assessing range of motion, stiffness, and functional limitations helps guide treatment adjustments and determine whether additional interventions, such as physical therapy or assistive devices, are necessary.
- Uric acid level. The client’s uric acid level is elevated, which may indicate a predisposition to gout. Monitoring uric acid levels is important to prevent or identify early signs of gouty arthritis, which can coexist with osteoarthritis and cause episodic joint pain.
Rationale for Incorrect Options:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that typically presents with symmetrical joint involvement, morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, and systemic symptoms such as fatigue and weight loss. The client does not exhibit these features, and their negative antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) make rheumatoid arthritis unlikely.
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disorder that can cause joint pain along with systemic symptoms such as facial rashes, kidney involvement, and hematologic abnormalities. The client does not have the characteristic malar rash, widespread joint pain, or other systemic findings. Furthermore, their ANA is negative, which significantly reduces the likelihood of SLE.
- Instruct the client to avoid large crowds is not appropriate because osteoarthritis is not an autoimmune or immunosuppressive condition. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, osteoarthritis does not increase infection risk, so there is no need to avoid crowded places.
- Instruct the client to apply cold would not be the preferred intervention for osteoarthritis. Cold therapy is generally more effective for acute inflammation, whereas heat is better for chronic joint pain and stiffness.
- Lymphadenopathy is not a concern in osteoarthritis because it is a degenerative joint disease rather than an infectious or inflammatory condition. Swollen lymph nodes are more commonly seen in infections or autoimmune diseases like lupus.
- ANA does not need to be monitored for osteoarthritis, as it is primarily used to diagnose autoimmune conditions such as lupus. The client’s ANA is already negative, further confirming that autoimmune disease is unlikely.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. "Discarding worksheets containing client information in a wastebasket." Client information should be disposed of properly to prevent unauthorized access. Documents containing protected health information should be shredded or placed in designated confidential disposal bins rather than a regular wastebasket.
B. "Writing a client's diagnosis on the message board in the client's room." Publicly displaying a client’s diagnosis can lead to unauthorized disclosure of protected health information. While message boards can be used for general reminders such as scheduled tests, they should not include sensitive medical details.
C. "Discussing a client's prognosis with an assistive personnel who is caring for the client." While assistive personnel may need to know some aspects of a client’s care, discussing a prognosis typically falls outside their scope of practice and should be limited to appropriate healthcare professionals involved in decision-making.
D. "Giving change-of-shift report to a nurse outside the client's room." Conducting shift reports in a private or semi-private setting with only authorized personnel helps protect client confidentiality. While reports may sometimes occur at the bedside for continuity of care, they should be done in a way that minimizes exposure of personal health information to others who are not directly involved in the client's care.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Kleihauer-Betke test. This test is used to detect fetal-maternal hemorrhage by identifying fetal red blood cells in maternal circulation. It is not related to a nonreactive NST, which indicates the need for further fetal well-being assessment rather than checking for fetal-maternal bleeding.
B. Amnioinfusion. This procedure involves infusing fluid into the amniotic sac to relieve umbilical cord compression or dilute meconium-stained amniotic fluid. It is not an appropriate intervention for a nonreactive NST, as it does not assess fetal oxygenation or reactivity.
C. Administration of terbutaline. Terbutaline is a tocolytic used to relax the uterus and prevent preterm labor. It is not indicated for a nonreactive NST, as the concern in this scenario is fetal well-being rather than uterine activity.
D. Contraction stress test. A nonreactive NST means that the fetal heart rate does not demonstrate adequate accelerations, which can indicate potential fetal hypoxia. A contraction stress test is performed next to evaluate how the fetal heart rate responds to contractions, helping determine if the fetus can tolerate labor.
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