The client is a 27-year-old male who had an exploratory laparotomy 8 days ago following a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The surgeons evacuated a large amount of blood in the peritoneum and repaired a liver laceration. The client was in the intensive care unit (ICU) for 4 days and in the surgical floor for 4 days. He started a regular diet 3 days ago but is now refusing to eat and has had several episodes of vomiting in the past 3 hours. Which action should the nurse take?

Test for Helicobacter pylori

Give intravenous fluids

Insert a rectal tube

Monitor hemoglobin

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Choice A reason: Testing for Helicobacter pylori is irrelevant, as vomiting and anorexia 8 days post-laparotomy suggest postoperative complications like ileus or obstruction, not peptic ulcer disease. H. pylori causes gastritis, not acute surgical issues, making this action inappropriate for the client’s current presentation.

Choice B reason: Giving intravenous fluids is critical, as vomiting and refusal to eat post-laparotomy risk dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Fluids restore volume, stabilize hemodynamics, and support recovery from potential ileus or obstruction, addressing the client’s acute symptoms and preventing further deterioration.

Choice C reason: Inserting a rectal tube is inappropriate, as vomiting indicates upper gastrointestinal issues, not lower bowel obstruction. Post-laparotomy vomiting suggests ileus or adhesion, and rectal tubes do not address gastric or small bowel complications, making this action ineffective.

Choice D reason: Monitoring hemoglobin assesses blood loss, relevant post-laparotomy, but vomiting and anorexia prioritize fluid replacement to prevent dehydration. Hemoglobin checks are secondary, as fluid loss is the immediate threat, making IV fluids the more urgent intervention for stabilization.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Clay-colored stool indicates bile duct obstruction, not directly related to esophageal varices in cirrhosis. Varices are dilated veins prone to rupture, and while liver dysfunction affects bile, hematemesis is a more immediate, life-threatening complication, making this choice less critical.

Choice B reason: Hematemesis is critical to monitor, as esophageal varices in cirrhosis are fragile, dilated veins that can rupture, causing massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding. This leads to life-threatening hemorrhage, requiring urgent intervention, making it the priority due to its high mortality risk in portal hypertension.

Choice C reason: Anorexia is common in cirrhosis due to metabolic changes but is not specific to varices. While it affects nutrition, it is less urgent than hematemesis, which indicates variceal bleeding, a medical emergency, making this choice secondary to bleeding risk.

Choice D reason: Brown, foamy urine suggests renal issues, like proteinuria, not directly linked to esophageal varices. Variceal bleeding is a more immediate threat in cirrhosis, as urine changes are unrelated to portal hypertension’s acute complications, making this choice less critical.

A. Cell-mediated tovity B. Autoimmune response C. IgE response hypersensitivity D. Type II hypersensitivity

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: Cell-mediated hypersensitivity (Type IV) involves T-cells, causing delayed reactions like contact dermatitis, not acute symptoms like rash, hypotension, and dyspnea. Bee sting reactions are rapid, driven by IgE-mediated histamine release, making this immune mechanism incorrect for the client’s presentation.

Choice B reason: Autoimmune responses target self-antigens, as in lupus, not external allergens like bee venom. The client’s acute rash, hypotension, and respiratory distress indicate an allergic reaction, not autoimmunity, making this mechanism irrelevant to the anaphylactic response observed.

Choice C reason: IgE response hypersensitivity (Type I) causes anaphylaxis, as bee venom triggers IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation, releasing histamine. This leads to rash, hypotension, and bronchoconstriction, matching the client’s symptoms, making this the correct immune reaction for the acute, life-threatening presentation.

Choice D reason: Type II hypersensitivity involves antibody-mediated cytotoxicity, as in hemolytic anemia, not allergic reactions. Bee sting anaphylaxis results from IgE-driven histamine release, not cell destruction, making this mechanism incorrect for the client’s rapid-onset allergic symptoms.

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A client with chronic cirrhosis has esophageal varices. It is most important for the nurse to monitor the client for the onset of which problem?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The nurse is caring for a client who is taking diclofenac for rheumatoid arthritis. During a clinic visit, the client appears pale and reports increasing fatigue. Which of the client’s serum laboratory values is most important for the nurse to review?

A client with open-angle glaucoma asks the nurse how long the prescribed eye drops will need to be used. Which response made by the nurse is accurate?

Which instruction should the nurse include in the discharge teaching plan for an adult client with hypernatremia?

The nurse is admitting a client with possible tuberculosis (TB). The client is placed in a private room with airborne precautions pending diagnostic test results. Which diagnostic test should the nurse review to confirm the diagnosis of TB?

Which approach is best for the nurse to use when directing a client with Huntington’s disease to the hospital cafeteria?

A client is recovering from the surgical removal of glass in the right eye. Which intervention should the nurse implement immediately following the procedure?

Following discharge teaching, a client with a duodenal ulcer tells the nurse of plans to eat plenty of dairy products to help coat and protect the duodenal ulcer. Which is the best follow-up action by the nurse?

A client with myasthenia gravis receives a new prescription for pyridostigmine. Which information should the nurse obtain prior to administering the medication?