A nurse is caring for a client following application of a cast. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Place an ice pack over the cast.

Position the casted extremity on a pillow.

Teach the client to keep the cast clean and dry.

Palpate the pulse distal to the cast.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A. Place an ice pack over the cast. While this can help reduce swelling and pain, it is a comfort measure, not the priority. Safety assessments must be completed first before implementing non-urgent interventions.
B. Position the casted extremity on a pillow. Elevation is important to reduce swelling, but it follows after ensuring that circulation to the extremity is intact and that there are no signs of vascular compromise.
C. Teach the client to keep the cast clean and dry. Education is essential for long-term cast care, but it is not the first action after cast application. Immediate post-procedural monitoring takes precedence.
D. Palpate the pulse distal to the cast. The nurse should first assess for adequate circulation by checking distal pulses. This helps identify early signs of complications like compartment syndrome or impaired blood flow, making it the highest priority.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. "You should take a dose every night at bedtime." Sublingual nitroglycerin is not taken on a routine schedule like bedtime. It is used as needed at the onset of chest pain or before activities that might trigger angina, not as a preventive nightly dose.
B. “You should take this medication with food." Sublingual nitroglycerin is placed under the tongue and absorbed directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the gastrointestinal system. It does not require administration with food.
C. "You may repeat a dose after five minutes." If chest pain persists after the first dose, the client may take one tablet every 5 minutes, up to a total of three doses within 15 minutes. If the pain continues after the third dose, emergency services should be contacted.
D. “You may crush this medication if needed." Sublingual tablets should never be crushed or swallowed, as this would prevent proper absorption through the oral mucosa and reduce the medication’s effectiveness in relieving acute chest pain.

A. Temperature 38.2° C (100.8° F) B. Heart rate 104/min C. Client reports feeling unwell D. Lung sounds clear but diminished in the bases E. Fundus boggy but firmed with massage F. Moderate amount of dark brown, foul-smelling lochia noted G. No bowel movement since birth, hypoactive bowel sounds H. WBC count 33,000/mm3 (5,000 to 10,000/mm)

Correct Answer is ["A","B","C","D","E","F","G","H"]

Explanation

Client reports feeling unwell: This is clinically significant when combined with fever, foul-smelling lochia, and elevated WBCs; it could indicate systemic infection such as endometritis.
Fundus boggy but firms with massage: Indicates uterine atony, a risk factor for postpartum hemorrhage. Even if it responds to massage, repeated bogginess suggests the need for uterotonic medications and close monitoring.
Foul-smelling, dark brown lochia: These findings are highly suggestive of uterine infection (endometritis), especially when paired with uterine tenderness, fever, and elevated WBCs.
WBC count 33,000/mm³: Severely elevated — well above normal postpartum leukocytosis (typically up to 20,000/mm³). A level of 33,000 strongly suggests an ongoing infectious process.
Temperature 38.2°C (100.8°F): Slightly elevated, and while low-grade fever is common postpartum, when associated with uterine tenderness and abnormal lochia, it raises concern for infection and should be monitored and managed appropriately.
Lung sounds diminished in the bases: Could be due to post-surgical hypoventilation, immobility, or atelectasis. Should prompt encouragement of deep breathing, incentive spirometry, and ambulation.
No bowel movement since birth, hypoactive bowel sounds: This is a common post-cesarean finding due to anesthesia and immobility, but it still indicates delayed return of GI function and should be monitored for signs of ileus.

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A nurse is caring for a client following application of a cast. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is teaching a client about self-administration of sublingual nitroglycerin. Which of the following statements should the nurse include?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Correct Answer is ["A","B","C","D","E","F","G","H"]

Explanation

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