A nurse is collecting data on a client who has respiratory alkalosis. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

A. Provide educational material written at an eighth-grade reading level: This is correct. Health education materials should be written at a level that is easily understandable by the majority of patients. An eighth-grade reading level is often recommended to ensure that the information is accessible to a wide range of patients.

B. Ensure privacy for the client: This is also correct. Privacy is a fundamental right of all patients and is particularly important when discussing sensitive topics such as preoperative care. Ensuring privacy can help the patient feel more comfortable and facilitate open communication.

C. Start with the least important information: This is not recommended. When providing education, it’s generally best to start with the most important information. Patients may be anxious or overwhelmed, and they may not remember everything that is discussed. By starting with the most important information, you increase the chances that the patient will remember and understand the key points.

D. Dim the lights in the client’s room: While creating a comfortable environment is important, dimming the lights is not specifically related to preoperative teaching. The focus should be on providing clear, understandable information and addressing the patient’s questions and concerns.

(A) Kernig’s sign: Kernig’s sign is a clinical sign in which severe stiffness of the hamstrings causes an inability to straighten the leg when the hip is flexed to 90 degrees. It is commonly associated with meningitis, not hypocalcemia.

(B) Brudzinski’s sign: Brudzinski’s sign is a symptom of meningitis. It is not associated with hypocalcemia.

(C) Chvostek’s sign: This is the most appropriate answer. Chvostek’s sign is a clinical sign of existing nerve hyperexcitability (tetany) seen in hypocalcemia. It refers to an abnormal reaction to the stimulation of the facial nerve.

(D) Cullen’s sign: Cullen’s sign is a medical term referring to superficial edema and bruising in the subcutaneous fatty tissue around the umbilicus. It is not associated with hypocalcemia.