A nurse is caring for four adult clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which client should the nurse assess first based on the ABCDE priority framework?
A client with a temperature of 38.3°C (101°F) and flu symptoms.
A client who is groggy and has slurred speech after surgery.
A client with swelling in the neck and audible wheezing.
A client with a color change and decreased pulses in one leg.
The Correct Answer is C
A. A client with a temperature of 38.3°C (101°F) and flu symptoms. Hyperthermia and viral symptoms represent a stable physiological state without immediate life-threatening compromise. While the client requires monitoring and antipyretics, they do not take precedence over airway or circulatory emergencies. This presentation falls under the Exposure or Disability assessment categories.
B. A client who is groggy and has slurred speech after surgery. Slurred speech and lethargy indicate neurological changes or anesthesia effects, categorized under "Disability" in the ABCDE framework. While concerning for potential stroke or over-sedation, these signs are secondary to active airway obstruction. The nurse should assess this client only after securing life-sustaining functions.
C. A client with swelling in the neck and audible wheezing. Neck swelling and wheezing indicate a critical Airway and Breathing emergency, such as anaphylaxis or laryngeal edema. This client is at highest risk for complete respiratory arrest due to upper airway occlusion. Immediate intervention is required to maintain patency and prevent hypoxic brain injury.
D. A client with a color change and decreased pulses in one leg. Diminished pulses and pallor signify Circulation issues related to peripheral vascular perfusion. While this indicates potential limb-threatening ischemia, the ABCDE hierarchy mandates resolving airway and breathing threats first. Circulatory assessment of an extremity follows the stabilization of central respiratory function.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Make little or no attempt to move the group. This behavior is characteristic of a laissez-faire leadership style rather than a democratic one. Laissez-faire leaders remain passive and provide minimal direction, often leading to group frustration and a lack of productivity. Democratic leaders remain active and engaged in guiding the team toward collective goals.
B. Share leadership with the group. Democratic leadership is defined by the distribution of responsibility and decision-making power among team members. This style fosters increased staff satisfaction and promotes a sense of ownership over clinical outcomes. The leader acts as a facilitator, ensuring that all voices are considered in the problem-solving process.
C. Dampen creativity. Inhibiting innovative thinking is a byproduct of authoritarian or bureaucratic leadership models where strict adherence to rules is mandatory. Democratic leaders encourage creativity by soliciting input and diverse perspectives from the interdisciplinary team. This collaborative environment is essential for improving nursing processes and enhancing patient care quality.
D. Move the group toward the leader's goals. Directing a group solely toward the leader's personal objectives is a hallmark of autocratic leadership. In this model, the leader maintains total control and expects obedience without seeking team input. Democratic leaders align the group toward shared goals that have been developed through mutual agreement and discussion.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. local funeral home morgues. Local funeral homes lack the capacity and specialized radiation shielding required to handle a large volume of contaminated remains. Using multiple small sites increases the risk of secondary environmental contamination and complicates the tracking of victims. Centralized management is necessary during a mass casualty event involving hazardous radiological materials.
B. refrigerated trucks. A nuclear detonation results in a mass fatality incident that quickly overwhelms existing hospital and municipal morgue facilities. Refrigerated trucks provide the necessary temporary storage to prevent decomposition while forensic identification and radiological decontamination are performed. This is a standard emergency management strategy for managing surge capacity in catastrophic events.
C. mass graves. Mass graves are a last resort that hinders the individual identification and dignified return of remains to family members. This method can also lead to environmental contamination of groundwater if not properly managed. Public health protocols prioritize temporary refrigeration over permanent mass internment to maintain forensic and social standards.
D. the hospital morgue. Hospital morgues are designed for standard daily operations and cannot accommodate the sudden influx of hundreds or thousands of bodies. Overfilling the hospital morgue creates a biohazard risk and interferes with the facility's ability to function. Disaster response plans require the activation of external, temporary morgue solutions to handle the overflow.
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