A nurse is caring for a client who has expressive aphasia following a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Which of the following parameters should the nurse use first in order to assess the client’s pain level?

Pulse and blood pressure findings

Scheduled treatments and client illness

A self-report pain rating scale

Behavioral indicators and aﬀect

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A Reason: This is incorrect. Pulse and blood pressure findings are not reliable indicators of pain, as they can be inﬂuenced by many other factors, such as anxiety, medication, or underlying conditions. They are also not sensitive enough to detect changes in pain intensity or relief.

Choice B Reason: This is incorrect. Scheduled treatments and client illness are not relevant parameters for assessing pain, as they do not reﬂect the current pain experience of the client. They may provide some clues about the possible causes or sources of pain, but they do not measure the pain itself.

Choice C Reason: This is correct. A self-report pain rating scale is the most valid and reliable parameter for assessing pain, as it reﬂects the subjective perception of the client. The nurse should use a simple and appropriate scale, such as a numeric or visual analog scale, and ask the client to point to the number or picture that best represents their pain level.

Choice D Reason: This is incorrect. Behavioral indicators and aﬀect are useful parameters for assessing pain, especially when the client has difficulty communicating verbally, but they are not the first choice. They are more subjective and variable than self-report, and they may be inﬂuenced by cultural or personal factors. They should be used in conjunction with self-report, not instead of it.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The correct answer is: C. Continue the rate at 125 mL/hr.
Choice A: Slow the rate to 50 mL/hr
Slowing the IV fluid rate to 50 mL/hr is not appropriate for a patient with a head injury. Adequate fluid management is crucial to maintain cerebral perfusion pressure and prevent secondary brain injury. Reducing the rate to 50 mL/hr could lead to hypovolemia, which might decrease cerebral perfusion and worsen the patient’s condition.
Choice B: Slow the rate to 20 mL/hr
Slowing the IV fluid rate to 20 mL/hr is even less appropriate. Such a low rate would likely result in significant hypovolemia, severely compromising cerebral perfusion pressure. This could exacerbate the patient’s head injury by reducing the blood flow to the brain, leading to further damage.
Choice C: Continue the rate at 125 mL/hr
Continuing the rate at 125 mL/hr is appropriate. This rate helps maintain euvolemia, which is essential for ensuring adequate cerebral perfusion pressure in patients with head injuries. Maintaining a stable fluid rate helps prevent both hypovolemia and hypervolemia, both of which can negatively impact intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion.
Choice D: Increase the rate to 250 mL/hr
Increasing the IV fluid rate to 250 mL/hr is not recommended. Overhydration can lead to increased intracranial pressure, which can be detrimental to a patient with a head injury. Excessive fluid administration can cause cerebral edema, worsening the patient’s condition.

A. Cold and numb sensation distal to the fistula site B. A raised red rash around the fistula site C. Pain in the right arm proximal to the fistula site D. Foul-smelling drainage from the fistula site

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A: Cold and numb sensation distal to the fistula site is a possible indication of venous insufficiency. Venous insufficiency is a condition in which the veins have difficulty returning blood from the limbs to the heart, resulting in blood pooling and reduced perfusion. A new arteriovenous fistula can cause increased blood ﬂow through the artery and decreased blood ﬂow through the vein, leading to venous insufficiency. This can manifest as coldness, numbness, tingling, or cyanosis in the fingers or hand below the fistula site.

Choice B: A raised red rash around the fistula site is not a possible indication of venous insufficiency. A raised red rash around the fistula site can indicate an allergic reaction, an infection, or an inﬂammation of the skin or subcutaneous tissue. The nurse should assess the rash for size, shape, color, texture, temperature, and drainage, and report any signs of infection or inﬂammation, such as fever, pus, or swelling.

Choice C: Pain in the right arm proximal to the fistula site is not a possible indication of venous insufficiency. Pain in the right arm proximal to the fistula site can indicate arterial insufficiency, which is a condition in which the arteries have difficulty delivering oxygen-rich blood to the tissues, resulting in ischemia and necrosis. Arterial insufficiency can be caused by atherosclerosis, thrombosis, embolism, or vasospasm. The nurse should assess the pain for location, intensity, duration, frequency, and quality, and report any signs of ischemia or necrosis, such as pallor, coolness, weak pulses, or ulceration.

Choice D: Foul-smelling drainage from the fistula site is not a possible indication of venous insufficiency. Foul-smelling drainage from the fistula site can indicate an infection of the fistula or surrounding tissue. The nurse should assess the drainage for color, odor, amount, and consistency, and report any signs of infection or sepsis, such as fever, chills, malaise, or hypotension.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A nurse is caring for a client who has expressive aphasia following a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Which of the following parameters should the nurse use first in order to assess the client’s pain level?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who sustained a head injury. The nurse notes the client's IV ﬂuids are infusing at 125 mL/hr. Which of the following is an appropriate action by the nurse?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has a new arteriovenous fistula in the right forearm. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse include in the teaching as a possible indication of venous insufficiency?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is reviewing the arterial blood gas values of a client who has chronic kidney disease. Which of the following sets of values should the nurse expect?

A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client who has internal injuries from a car crash. The client is disoriented to time and place, diaphoretic, and his lips are cyanotic. The nurse should anticipate which of the following findings as an indication of hypovolemic shock?

A nurse is caring for a client who is at risk for shock. Which of the following findings is the earliest indicator that this complication is developing?

A nurse is caring for a client who suspects recent exposure to inhalation anthrax. Which of the following findings indicate possible exposure?

A nurse is caring for a male client who reports nausea and vomiting and is receiving IV ﬂuid therapy. His blood urea nitrogen (BUN) is 32 mg/dL, creatinine 1.1 mg/dL, and hematocrit 50%. Which of the following nursing interventions is appropriate?

A nurse is reviewing a client's laboratory values. Which of the following values should the nurse report to the provider?

A nurse is planning care for a client who had a traumatic brain injury and is emerging restlessly from a coma. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?

The nurse is evaluating a client who had a cardiac catheterization with a left antecubital insertion site. Which of the following pulses should the nurse palpate?