A nurse is monitoring a client following a thoracentesis. The nurse should identify which of the following manifestations as a complication and contact the provider immediately?
Discomfort at the puncture site
Serosanguineous drainage from the puncture site
Increased heart rate
Decreased temperature
The Correct Answer is C
A. Discomfort at the puncture site:
Some discomfort at the puncture site is normal after a thoracentesis. It may be managed with pain medication as needed.
B. Serosanguineous drainage from the puncture site:
Serosanguineous drainage (a mix of clear and bloody fluid) is a common and expected finding after a thoracentesis. It is part of the normal post-procedure care.
C. Increased heart rate
Increased heart rate can be indicative of a complication following a thoracentesis, such as a pneumothorax or bleeding. This requires immediate attention, and the healthcare provider should be contacted promptly for further evaluation and intervention.
D. Decreased temperature:
A decreased temperature alone is not typically associated with complications following a thoracentesis. It may be related to other factors, but it is not an immediate concern compared to an increased heart rate.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Place the client in a private room with a special ventilation system.
The primary method to prevent the transmission of tuberculosis is to place the client in a negative pressure room with adequate ventilation. This helps to reduce the risk of airborne transmission of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria.
B. Modify the protocol for donning and removing personal protective equipment before entering or leaving the client’s room:
Standard precautions should be followed, but the primary emphasis is on airborne precautions due to the potential for airborne transmission of TB. Modifications to donning and removing PPE are not the main focus.
C. Have staff and visitors wear gowns, masks, and gloves while in the client’s room:
Airborne precautions are more specific for suspected active tuberculosis. While gowns, masks, and gloves may be used for other infectious diseases, the key precaution for TB is a private room with negative pressure ventilation.
D. Assign the client to a room with other clients who require droplet precautions:
Tuberculosis is primarily transmitted through airborne particles, not droplets. Placing the client in a room with droplet precautions is not sufficient to prevent the spread of tuberculosis.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. A client who has a prescription for insulin, and his premeal capillary blood glucose was 110 mg/dL, and his post-meal capillary blood glucose is now 160 mg/dL:
While changes in blood glucose levels are important to monitor, the described change is not as significant as a sudden drop in blood pressure. The blood glucose levels in this scenario are still within a reasonable range.
B. A client whose blood pressure at 0800 was 138/86 mm Hg, and at 1200 is 106/60 mm Hg:
This is the priority client. The significant drop in blood pressure raises concerns about hypovolemia or circulatory issues, which require immediate attention to prevent complications such as inadequate organ perfusion.
C. A client who reports pain as 4 on a scale of 1 to 10 at 0800 and now reports pain as 6:
Pain management is important, but the change in pain intensity from 4 to 6, while indicating an increase, may not be as urgent as addressing a significant drop in blood pressure. Pain assessment and management can be addressed after stabilizing the client with the acute change.
D. A client whose wound drainage at 0800 was sanguineous, and now it is serosanguineous:
Changes in wound drainage color can be important for assessing the healing process, but a shift from sanguineous to serosanguineous is generally within the expected progression of wound healing. It may not require immediate intervention as compared to a significant drop in blood pressure.
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