A young male adult walks into the emergency department (ED) holding a dead poisonous snake that bit him on his right calf within the last hour. After killing the snake, he tied a tablecloth about 4 inches (10 cm) above the bite. The client is now reporting numbness and tingling from the right knee to ankle. His heart rate is 123 beats/minute, respirations 28 breaths/minute, blood pressure 86/40 mm Hg, and oxygen saturation 94% on room air. Which intervention should the nurse implement?
Insert a large bore peripheral IV catheter.
Raise extremity above the heart.
Tighten the cloth around the leg.
Apply ice over the bite mark.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Insert a large bore peripheral IV catheter. The client is showing signs of shock (tachycardia, hypotension, tachypnea) likely due to envenomation and systemic venom effects. Rapid IV access is essential for fluid resuscitation, administration of antivenom, and management of shock. A large bore (18-gauge or larger) IV catheter allows for aggressive fluid therapy to maintain perfusion and prevent circulatory collapse.
B. Raise extremity above the heart. Elevating the limb can increase venom circulation, worsening systemic effects. Instead, the affected extremity should be kept at heart level to slow venom spread while ensuring adequate perfusion.
C. Tighten the cloth around the leg. Further tightening the makeshift tourniquet can lead to vascular compromise, ischemia, and increased local tissue damage. Modern guidelines discourage tourniquets as they do not prevent venom spread effectively and may worsen outcomes. The best approach is to loosen or remove restrictive bindings and keep the limb immobilized at heart level.
D. Apply ice over the bite mark. Cold therapy is contraindicated as it can worsen tissue damage by causing vasoconstriction, trapping venom, and increasing necrosis. Instead, the priority is IV access, fluid resuscitation, and preparing for possible antivenom administration.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB). CK-MB is a cardiac enzyme that rises 3-6 hours after myocardial injury and was previously used to diagnose myocardial infarction (MI). However, it is less specific than troponin and can be elevated in skeletal muscle damage, making troponin the preferred biomarker for cardiac injury.
B. Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT). SGPT (also known as alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) is a liver enzyme and is not a primary marker for cardiac injury. While cardiac arrest and hypoxia can lead to liver damage, monitoring cardiac-specific markers is the priority in this scenario.
C. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). LDH is a nonspecific marker of tissue damage that can be elevated in cardiac, hepatic, renal, or other organ injuries. It is not cardiac-specific and is no longer used as a primary diagnostic tool for MI.
D. Cardiac troponin. Troponin (T and I) is the most specific and sensitive biomarker for myocardial injury. The presence of ST elevation in multiple leads suggests acute myocardial infarction (MI) as the cause of cardiac arrest. Troponin levels begin to rise within 2-3 hours, peak at 12-24 hours, and remain elevated for 7-10 days, making them the most important laboratory value to monitor for ongoing cardiac damage.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Teach communication board use. While nonverbal communication tools are helpful for intubated clients, they do not directly prevent complications associated with mechanical ventilation and ARDS. The priority in this critically ill client is to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and sepsis-related complications.
B. Use antiseptic solution with oral care. Clients on mechanical ventilation are at high risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), which worsens outcomes in ARDS. Using an antiseptic solution (such as chlorhexidine) for oral care reduces bacterial colonization in the oropharynx, decreasing the risk of VAP. This intervention is a key component of ventilator bundle protocols to improve survival rates in critically ill patients.
C. Recommend hours for visitation. While family support is important, setting visitation hours does not directly impact the client's recovery from ARDS and sepsis. Infection prevention and lung protection strategies take higher priority in the acute phase.
D. Promote uninterrupted periods of sleep. Rest is important for critically ill clients, but preventing life-threatening complications such as VAP, sepsis progression, and oxygenation failure takes precedence. Proper oral care with antiseptics directly reduces infection risk and improves patient outcomes.
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