A nurse is completing a focused assessment addressing a client's immune function. What should the nurse prioritize in the physical assessment?
Palpation of the patient's lymph nodes
Auscultation of the patient's apical heart rate
Palpation of the patient's liver
Percussion of the patient's abdomen
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that play a crucial role in the immune system. They filter lymph fluid, which carries white blood cells and other immune cells throughout the body.
When the body is fighting an infection or other immune challenge, lymph nodes often swell and become tender. This is because they are actively working to filter out pathogens and activate immune cells.
Palpation of the lymph nodes can provide valuable information about the patient's immune function. The nurse can assess for enlargement, tenderness, and mobility of the lymph nodes.
Lymph node assessment is a non-invasive, painless procedure that can be performed quickly and easily.
Choice B rationale:
Auscultation of the apical heart rate is important for assessing cardiovascular function, but it does not directly assess immune function.
While heart rate can be indirectly affected by certain immune conditions (e.g., fever), it is not a primary indicator of immune system activity.
Choice C rationale:
Palpation of the liver can provide information about liver size and consistency, but it does not directly assess immune function.
The liver plays a role in immune function by producing proteins that help fight infection, but its size and consistency do not necessarily reflect its immune activity.
Choice D rationale:
Percussion of the abdomen can be used to assess the size and location of abdominal organs, but it does not directly assess immune function.
While certain immune conditions may involve abdominal organs (e.g., splenomegaly), percussion is not a primary method for assessing immune function.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
The length of time the mother has been caring for the baby is not directly relevant to the risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding. While a longer duration of breastfeeding may increase overall exposure, the primary concern is whether breastfeeding is occurring at all, as it presents a significant transmission route.
Choice B rationale:
Kissing does not typically transmit HIV, as the virus does not survive well outside the body. While there is a very low theoretical risk of transmission if both individuals have open sores or bleeding gums, it's not a primary concern in this scenario.
Choice C rationale:
The timing of the baby's last antibiotic treatment is not directly relevant to the risk of HIV transmission from breastfeeding. Antibiotics do not prevent or treat HIV infection, and their use would not impact the assessment of breastfeeding-related risks.
Choice D rationale:
Breastfeeding is a significant route of HIV transmission from mother to child. If the baby is breastfeeding, it's crucial for the nurse to determine the mother's viral load and CD4 count, assess the baby's HIV status, and provide appropriate counseling and interventions to reduce the risk of transmission. This information is essential for guiding decisions about infant feeding and potential prophylactic measures to protect the baby's health.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Coughing and deep breathing are essential for mobilizing and removing secretions from the airways, which is crucial for improving airway clearance in patients with pneumonia. These techniques help to loosen mucus and bring it up from the lungs, allowing it to be expelled through coughing.
Hydration maintenance is also critical because it helps to thin secretions, making them easier to cough up. Adequate hydration helps to keep mucus moist and less sticky, which promotes easier expectoration.
Choice B rationale:
Keeping the head of the bed elevated can help to improve oxygenation and reduce the work of breathing, but it does not directly address the issue of airway clearance. It may be a helpful adjunct intervention, but it's not the priority for this specific nursing diagnosis.
Choice C rationale:
Preparation for insertion of a tracheostomy tube is a more invasive intervention that may be necessary in severe cases of airway obstruction, but it is not the first-line intervention for ineffective airway clearance related to pneumonia. It would be considered if other measures fail to maintain adequate ventilation.
Choice D rationale:
Providing supplemental oxygen can help to improve oxygenation in patients with pneumonia, but it does not directly address the issue of airway clearance. It's important to support oxygenation, but it's not the primary intervention to clear secretions.
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