An older adult client, who is insulin-dependent, arrives at the diabetic clinic with concerns of thick, crusty, and long toenails that are piercing the adjacent toes. Which action should the nurse take?
Cut the nails straight across, then soak the feet for 10 minutes in an antibiotic solution.
Check the client’s feet for cuts or injury, then refer to a foot specialist for nail trimming.
Soak the feet in warm water for 5 minutes, then cut the nails straight across.
Advise the client to soften the nails with lotion prior to cutting them.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason: Cutting nails and soaking in antibiotic solution risks infection in insulin-dependent diabetes, where neuropathy impairs sensation and healing. Thick nails may be fungal, needing specialist care. Checking for injuries and referring to a podiatrist ensures safe management, preventing ulcers in high-risk diabetic feet.
Choice B reason: Checking for cuts assesses diabetic foot risk, as neuropathy and poor glycemic control impair healing. Thick nails piercing toes require podiatrist trimming to prevent trauma or infection. Referral ensures expert care, addressing pathophysiological risks of neuropathy and vascular impairment, preventing serious complications like ulcers.
Choice C reason: Soaking and cutting nails is risky in diabetes, as neuropathy increases injury risk, and warm water may introduce infection in unnoticed wounds. Fungal nails need specialist care. Referral to a podiatrist ensures safe trimming, preventing infection in compromised feet, making this action unsafe.
Choice D reason: Advising lotion to soften nails does not mitigate injury risk from trimming thick nails in diabetes. Neuropathy and poor healing increase infection risk from errors. Specialist referral ensures safe nail management, preventing trauma or ulceration, critical in diabetic foot care due to vascular deficits.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Dependence is not a primary concern with lithium, a mood stabilizer. Toxicity is critical due to lithium’s narrow therapeutic range, risking severe complications. Dependence is more relevant to other drugs, per psychopharmacology and lithium therapy education standards in nursing.
Choice B reason: Interactions are important but less urgent than toxicity, which can be life-threatening with lithium’s narrow therapeutic index. Toxicity education emphasizes monitoring blood levels to prevent harm, per psychopharmacology and patient safety protocols in lithium therapy teaching.
Choice C reason: Toxicity is the most critical adverse effect to teach, as lithium’s narrow therapeutic index risks severe complications like seizures or renal failure. Monitoring symptoms and blood levels ensures safety, per evidence-based psychopharmacology and patient education protocols for lithium therapy in nursing.
Choice D reason: Tolerance is not a significant issue with lithium, unlike toxicity, which is life-threatening due to its narrow therapeutic range. Teaching toxicity symptoms prioritizes patient safety, per lithium therapy management and psychopharmacological education standards in nursing practice.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: A soft diet with milk products may worsen diverticulosis, as dairy can cause bloating or intolerance. High fiber and fluids prevent constipation, reducing diverticular pressure. This is inappropriate, per dietary management and gastrointestinal health guidelines for diverticulosis in nursing education.
Choice B reason: A high fiber diet and increased fluid intake prevent constipation, reducing pressure in diverticula and preventing complications like diverticulitis. This promotes bowel regularity, critical for managing diverticulosis, per evidence-based dietary recommendations and gastrointestinal health protocols in patient education for nursing care.
Choice C reason: Small frequent meals and sitting up after meals aid digestion but do not address diverticulosis-specific needs. High fiber and fluids directly prevent constipation, reducing diverticular strain. This is less effective, per dietary management and patient teaching standards for diverticulosis in nursing.
Choice D reason: A bland diet avoiding spicy foods is unrelated to diverticulosis, which requires fiber to prevent constipation. Spicy foods do not directly affect diverticula. High fiber and fluids are critical, per gastrointestinal health and dietary management guidelines for diverticulosis in nursing education.
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