A nurse is caring for four clients. Which of the following assessment findings is the priority?
A client who has facial drooping following a stroke 8 hours ago.
A client who has a femur fracture and reports feeling short of breath.
A client who had an appendectomy 12 hours ago and reports pain as 5 on a scale of 0 to 10.
A client who had an open cholecystectomy 4 days ago and has serosanguineous drainage on the wound dressing.
The Correct Answer is B
The correct answer is choice B: A client who has a femur fracture and reports feeling short of breath.
Choice A rationale:
A client who has facial drooping following a stroke 8 hours ago (Choice A) is a concern as it may indicate neurological damage; however, a client with a femur fracture experiencing shortness of breath takes priority due to the potential risk of a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening complication.
Choice B rationale:
A client who has a femur fracture and reports feeling short of breath (Choice B) is the priority assessment finding. Shortness of breath in this context raises concern for a possible pulmonary embolism, which is a critical condition that requires immediate intervention.
Choice C rationale:
A client who had an appendectomy 12 hours ago and reports pain as 5 on a scale of 0 to 10 (Choice C) is a valid concern, but it is of lower priority compared to a client with a femur fracture and respiratory distress.
Choice D rationale:
A client who had an open cholecystectomy 4 days ago and has serosanguineous drainage on the wound dressing (Choice D) is a normal postoperative finding and does not require immediate attention. While wound assessment is important, it is not the priority in this scenario.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Involving the client's parents in treatment decisions might not be appropriate if the client does not want them involved. Furthermore, the client's autonomy and wishes should be respected, and decisions about treatment should be primarily based on the client's preferences.
Choice B rationale:
This is the correct response. The nurse should respect the client's decision to discontinue chemotherapy and provide information about palliative care as an alternative option. Palliative care focuses on symptom management and improving the client's quality of life, aligning with the client's wishes to stop chemotherapy.
Choice C rationale:
Contacting the spiritual advisor is not directly related to the client's expressed desire to discontinue chemotherapy. While spiritual and emotional support are important, the primary concern here is addressing the client's medical decisions.
Choice D rationale:
Contacting the client's parents to discuss durable power of attorney is not appropriate if the client does not want them involved in the decision-making process. The client's autonomy and preferences should be respected, and they should be empowered to make their own medical decisions.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A: Compare data from clients' records regarding skin integrity with established criteria.
Choice A rationale:
Comparing data from clients' records regarding skin integrity with established criteria (Choice A) is essential for evaluating the effectiveness of the plan to decrease pressure injuries. This action helps identify trends, improvements, or areas that still need attention.
Choice B rationale:
Measuring staff attendance at an educational program on managing pressure injuries (Choice B) assesses staff participation but does not directly evaluate the plan's impact on pressure injury rates. Attendance does not necessarily translate to improved implementation.
Choice C rationale:
Interviewing clients regarding their satisfaction with their care (Choice C) focuses on client satisfaction rather than evaluating the effectiveness of the plan in reducing pressure injuries. While satisfaction is important, it does not directly measure the plan's success.
Choice D rationale:
Monitoring use of supplies used to prevent pressure injuries (Choice D) provides information on resource utilization but does not provide comprehensive data on the plan's effectiveness. It does not account for the effectiveness of staff adherence to pressure injury prevention protocols.
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