The husband of an older adult woman, diagnosed with pernicious anemia, calls the clinic to report that his wife still has memory loss and some confusion since she received the first dose of nasal cyanocobalamin two days ago. He tells the nurse that he is worried that she may be getting Alzheimer's disease. Which action should the nurse take?

Ask if the client is experiencing any change in bowel habits.

Determine if the client is taking iron and folic acid supplements.

Encourage the husband to bring the client to the clinic for a complete blood count.

Explain that memory loss and confusion are common with vitamin B12 deficiency.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A. Ask if the client is experiencing any change in bowel habits: Changes in bowel habits are not directly related to the confusion or memory loss seen in pernicious anemia. The concern here is primarily with vitamin B12 deficiency.

B. Determine if the client is taking iron and folic acid supplements: While iron and folic acid are important, they don't directly address the memory loss and confusion related to B12 deficiency. The immediate focus should be on the effects of the B12 treatment.

C. Encourage the husband to bring the client to the clinic for a complete blood count: A CBC can help monitor anemia, but it doesn't address the memory issues. The nurse should first explain the symptoms related to B12 deficiency.

D. Explain that memory loss and confusion are common with vitamin B12 deficiency:
Memory loss and confusion are known symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. These symptoms may take time to improve with treatment, and educating the husband helps alleviate concerns.

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Correct Answer is ["A","B","C","D"]

Explanation

A. Monitor collection container and replace when full: The nurse should monitor the collection container to ensure it doesn't become full, as this could cause backflow into the pleural cavity. Replacing it when full is essential to maintain proper drainage.

B. Encourage frequent use of the incentive spirometer: Using the incentive spirometer helps prevent atelectasis and pneumonia by promoting lung expansion. It is important for postoperative recovery to maintain good respiratory function.

C. Assess area around chest tube for subcutaneous emphysema: Subcutaneous emphysema can occur if air leaks into the tissues around the chest tube. The nurse should check for this condition as it could indicate complications like an air leak or pneumothorax.

D. Keep tubing loosely coiled below the level of the chest: The tubing should be positioned below the chest to facilitate gravity drainage. Keeping it loosely coiled ensures that fluid and air drain efficiently without backflow.

E. Verify air bubbling present in the water seal chamber: Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber is not expected and may indicate an air leak. Intermittent bubbling may be normal if the lung is still re-expanding, but ongoing bubbling should be reported, not simply verified.

Correct Answer is []

Explanation

Rationale for Correct Choices:

Bowel obstruction: The client's symptoms are classic signs of a bowel obstruction. Additionally, the lab results showing elevated sodium (165 mEq/L), low potassium (3.2 mEq/L), and low bicarbonate (20 mEq/L) suggest an electrolyte imbalance often seen in bowel obstructions due to fluid loss and impaired bowel function.
Insert nasogastric tube: A nasogastric tube is commonly used in bowel obstruction to decompress the stomach, relieve vomiting, and prevent aspiration. It helps reduce abdominal distention and allows for drainage of the stomach contents.
Maintain NPO status: Maintaining NPO status is essential in bowel obstruction to prevent further complications such as aspiration, vomiting, or perforation. It also helps to prepare the client for possible surgery if needed and allows the bowel to rest.
Signs and symptoms of sepsis: Given the possibility of bowel perforation or ischemia in a bowel obstruction, monitoring for signs and symptoms of sepsis is crucial. Fever, tachycardia, and hypotension could indicate the onset of systemic infection due to bowel perforation or necrosis.
Strict intake and output: Monitoring strict intake and output is vital to assess for dehydration or fluid imbalance, which can occur due to vomiting, diarrhea, or poor oral intake in bowel obstructions. Accurate monitoring helps guide treatment and fluid resuscitation.

Rationale for Incorrect Choices:

Pancreatitis: Pancreatitis presents with severe upper abdominal pain that may radiate to the back, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes jaundice. There are no signs like elevated lipase or amylase levels to suggest pancreatitis.
Food poisoning: Food poisoning can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but it usually has an acute onset and resolves within a short period (usually a day or two). This child's symptoms have persisted for two days, and there is no mention of fever or diarrhea.
Ruptured gallbladder: A ruptured gallbladder would present with severe right upper quadrant pain, fever, and jaundice due to bile leakage or infection. There is no indication of right upper quadrant pain or jaundice in this child.

Culture emesis: While culturing emesis may be useful in diagnosing foodborne illnesses or infection, it is not necessary in a case of bowel obstruction. The primary intervention in bowel obstruction is relieving the obstruction and monitoring for complications.
Prep for immediate gallbladder removal: Cholecystectomy is not indicated in this case. The client’s symptoms are not characteristic of gallbladder issues like cholecystitis or gallstone complications. The focus should be on diagnosing and managing the bowel obstruction.
Administer oxygen via face mask: Oxygen administration is typically indicated in cases of respiratory distress or shock. While this client is experiencing discomfort, she is not showing signs of hypoxia or severe circulatory issues. Spo2 is 97% indicating adequate saturation.

Bilirubin levels: Bilirubin levels are typically monitored when jaundice or liver dysfunction is suspected. This client does not show signs of jaundice or liver disease, and her symptoms are more consistent with a bowel obstruction.
Rebound tenderness: Rebound tenderness is useful in cases of peritonitis or bowel perforation. However, the absence of guarding and the fact that the child is not exhibiting acute peritonitis symptoms makes rebound tenderness less relevant.
Arterial blood gas (ABG): ABG measurements are typically used to assess respiratory and metabolic function. While the electrolyte imbalances seen in this patient (e.g., low bicarbonate) could suggest mild acidosis, ABG testing is not immediately necessary unless the client shows signs of severe metabolic disturbance or shock.

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is caring for a client who underwent a right lobectomy for lung cancer 24 hours ago and has a single chest tube on the right side. Which intervention(s) should the nurse plan to implement? Select all that apply.

Correct Answer is ["A","B","C","D"]

Explanation

Correct Answer is []

Explanation

Before leaving the room of a client who is confused, the nurse observes that a half bow knot was used to attach the client's wrist restraints to the movable portion of the client's bed frame. Which action should the nurse take before leaving the room?

Exhibits Click to indicate which client goal is being met by each of the client data. Each column must have at least one response selected.

The nurse observes the external genitalia of a female client in preparation for inserting an indwelling urinary catheter. At which location should the catheter be inserted? (Mark location on image)

A client who is admitted after an episode of status epilepticus is stabilized. Which finding should the nurse use to determine the client's risk for recurrence of seizure activity?

The nurse notes that a client with depression has been more withdrawn and noncommunicative during the past two weeks. Which intervention is most important to include in the updated plan of care for this client?