The nurse is performing an integumentary system assessment of a patient who has smoked for the last 40 years. The patient has clubbing of the fingernails. What does this finding indicate to the nurse?

The patient has asthma.

The patient has cardiovascular disease.

The patient has emphysema.

The patient has chronic hypoxemia.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A) The patient has asthma: While asthma can lead to respiratory symptoms and issues, it is not typically associated with clubbing of the fingernails. Asthma primarily affects airway constriction and inflammation, rather than causing the long-term changes in nail morphology seen with clubbing.

B) The patient has cardiovascular disease: Although some cardiovascular conditions can lead to clubbing, it is more commonly associated with chronic lung diseases. Cardiovascular disease might cause other signs or symptoms, but clubbing alone is not a definitive indicator of this condition.

C) The patient has emphysema: Emphysema, a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is characterized by the destruction of lung tissue and impaired airflow. While it can contribute to hypoxemia, clubbing is not a common finding specifically associated with emphysema.
D) The patient has chronic hypoxemia: Clubbing of the fingernails is a classic sign of chronic hypoxemia, often resulting from long-term respiratory conditions like COPD, interstitial lung disease, or lung cancer. It indicates a prolonged lack of oxygen in the blood, leading to changes in the nail bed and digit shape. Given the patient's long smoking history, chronic hypoxemia is the most likely explanation for this finding.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A) Listen for another minute just to be sure: While it is important to confirm findings, simply listening for another minute may not provide enough time to accurately assess bowel sounds, as they can be infrequent or absent in certain conditions.

B) Contact the physician as this is a surgical emergency: Not hearing bowel sounds for a minute is not immediately indicative of a surgical emergency. It’s essential to gather more information before escalating the situation.

C) Auscultate for another 4 minutes: This is the appropriate action, as the nurse should auscultate for a total of 5 minutes (1 minute initially and then 4 more minutes) to adequately assess bowel sounds. This duration allows for the detection of normal, hypoactive, or absent bowel sounds, which can provide critical information about the client’s gastrointestinal function.

D) Listen posteriorly for enhanced bowel sounds: While listening from different positions may sometimes help, the standard practice is to listen for an appropriate duration before changing techniques. Auscultating for a longer period is more clinically relevant in this scenario.

A. Splint and immobilize the extremity B. Apply an ice pack to the ankle C. Encourage weight bearing and ambulation D. Assess pulse, color, temperature and capillary refill

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A) Splint and immobilize the extremity: While immobilizing the injured extremity is important to prevent further injury, it should follow an initial assessment of blood flow and nerve function to ensure there are no vascular or neurological compromises.

B) Apply an ice pack to the ankle: Applying ice can help reduce swelling and alleviate pain. However, it is essential first to assess the circulation to the limb to ensure that applying ice will not worsen any underlying issues.

C) Encourage weight bearing and ambulation: Encouraging weight bearing on a potentially injured ankle can lead to further damage and is not appropriate. The priority is to assess the injury and understand its severity.

D) Assess pulse, color, temperature, and capillary refill: This step is crucial as it evaluates the vascular status of the limb. Assessing these factors helps identify any potential complications, such as compartment syndrome or inadequate blood flow, and guides further management of the injury.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

The nurse is performing an integumentary system assessment of a patient who has smoked for the last 40 years. The patient has clubbing of the fingernails. What does this finding indicate to the nurse?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse auscultates the client's abdomen for 1 minute and does not hear anybowel sounds. What should the nurse do next?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A patient is in the ED after falling off a ladder. His ankle appears swollen, out of alignment, and is painful to touch. What will the nurse do first?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

During the assessment of a client's head and neck, the nurse observes the client's facial expressions and the face for symmetry and movement. Which cranial nerve is the nurse assessing?

When conducting a peripheral vascular assessment on the upper extremities of a client, the nurse should include which assessments? Select all that apply

When assessing the abdomen, the nurse would expect to auscultate which sounds?

Which instructions should the nurse provide a client to assess the lateral flexion?

Based on an understanding of the cognitive changes that normally occur with aging. what would the nurse expect a newly hospitalized older adult to do?

The nurse is beginning a health history interview. Which of the following will best guide the rest of the health history interview?

The nurse is admitting a client of the Muslim faith during the holy month of Ramadan. The client tells the nurse that he must fast during this time. Which response by the nurse is the most appropriate?