A nurse is performing a skin assessment on a client who has dark skin.
Which of the following locations on the client’s body should the nurse observe to assess for cyanosis?
Area of trauma.
Sacrum.
Shoulders.
Palms of the hands.
The Correct Answer is D
Cyanosis is a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to inadequate oxygenation of the blood. It is more difficult to detect in people who have dark skin, so the nurse should look for cyanosis in areas where the skin is thinner and the blood supply is richer, such as the palms of the hands, the lips, the gums, and around the eyes.
These areas are less affected by melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color.
Choice A is wrong because an area of trauma may have bruising or inflammation that can mask cyanosis.
Choice B is wrong because the sacrum is not a good site to assess for cyanosis in any skin tone, as it is prone to pressure ulcers and poor circulation.
Choice C is wrong because the shoulders are not a mucous membrane and may have more melanin than other areas of the body.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A. “Would you like to speak to a spiritual advisor?”.
This statement shows respect for the client’s spirituality and offers support without imposing the nurse’s beliefs or values. Spirituality focuses on the significance and purpose of life and can help clients cope with depression and terminal illness.
Choice B is wrong because it implies that the client needs medication to deal with their feelings, which can be dismissive and insensitive.
Antianxiety medication may be appropriate for some clients, but it should not be the first option.
Choice C is wrong because it assumes that the client is ready to discuss advance directives, which may not be the case.
Advance directives are legal documents that specify the client’s wishes for end-of-life care, such as resuscitation, organ donation, or power of attorney.
The nurse should assess the client’s readiness and understanding before initiating this conversation.
Choice D is wrong because it suggests that the client is close to death and needs hospice care, which can be discouraging and frightening. Hospice care is an interdisciplinary team effort that provides palliative care for clients who have a terminal illness and a life expectancy of less than 6 months.
The nurse should explain the benefits of hospice care and obtain the client’s consent before making a referral.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Having interdisciplinary team meetings for the client on a regular basis.
This action best promotes communication among staff caring for the client because it allows for consistent and coordinated care planning, information sharing, and goal setting for the client who has expressive aphasia and right hemiparesis following a stroke.
Choice A is wrong because posting swallowing precautions at the head of the client’s bed does not promote communication among staff, but rather informs them of the client’s risk of aspiration due to dysphagia, which is a common complication of stroke.
Choice B is wrong because noting changes in the treatment plan in the client’s medical record is a standard practice that does not necessarily enhance communication among staff, but rather documents the client’s progress and interventions.
Choice D is wrong because recording the client’s progress in the nurses’ notes is also a standard practice that does not necessarily enhance communication among staff but rather provides a summary of the client’s status and care.
Expressive aphasia is an acquired language disorder that affects the ability to produce spoken or written language, while right hemiparesis is a weakness or partial paralysis of the right side of the body.
Both of these conditions are caused by damage to the left hemisphere of the brain, which is responsible for language and motor control of the right side of the body. Stroke and traumatic brain injury are common causes of left hemisphere-damage
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