A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is caring for a client who reports pain in the jaw, back, and shoulder, shortness of breath, and nausea.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Choice A rationale

Cold therapy is used for acute injuries to reduce swelling and pain but is not recommended for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) as it can cause vasoconstriction and worsen the condition.

Choice B rationale

Homan's sign is an outdated diagnostic tool for DVT as it is not reliable or specific and can result in false positives or negatives, thus not recommended for diagnosis.

Choice C rationale

Venous duplex ultrasound is the gold standard for diagnosing DVT as it visualizes blood flow and identifies thrombi within the veins, providing accurate and non-invasive detection.

Choice D rationale

Impedance plethysmography measures changes in blood volume but is less accurate than venous duplex ultrasound, and its use has declined in favor of more reliable imaging techniques.

Choice A rationale

Frothy sputum indicates pulmonary edema, a common complication of left-sided heart failure, resulting from fluid accumulation in the lungs due to poor ventricular function.

Choice B rationale

Nocturnal polyuria is associated with right-sided heart failure due to fluid redistribution when lying down, which increases kidney perfusion and urine output at night.

Choice C rationale

Dependent edema is more characteristic of right-sided heart failure, where fluid accumulates in lower extremities due to poor venous return and right ventricular failure.

Choice D rationale

Jugular distention is a sign of right-sided heart failure, caused by increased central venous pressure from the failing right ventricle's inability to pump blood effectively. .