The nurse is reviewing laboratory test results for the client with liver disease and notes that the client's albumin level is low. Which nursing assessment indicates low albumin levels?
Evaluate for asterixis
Palpate for peripheral edema
Evaluate for decreased level of consciousness
Inspect for petechiae
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason: Asterixis, also known as “liver flap,” is a type of tremor characterized by rapid, nonrhythmic extensions and flexions in the wrist and fingers. It is associated with hepatic encephalopathy, a condition that can occur with severe liver disease, but it is not a direct indicator of low albumin levels.
Choice B reason: Peripheral edema is a common clinical finding in patients with hypoalbuminemia, which is a low level of albumin in the blood. When albumin levels are low, fluid from the bloodstream can leak into body tissues, causing swelling, especially in the lower limbs. When assessing a client with liver disease and low albumin levels, palpating for peripheral edema would be the most relevant nursing assessment, as it directly correlates with the effects of hypoalbuminemia on fluid balance in the body. Albumin is a protein made by the liver that helps keep fluid in your blood vessels and plays a role in transporting substances throughout your body. Low levels of albumin can lead to fluid leaking out of blood vessels into tissues, causing swelling or edema.
Choice C reason: Decreased level of consciousness can be a sign of various conditions, including hepatic encephalopathy or other complications of liver disease, but it is not specifically indicative of low albumin levels.
Choice D reason: Petechiae are small red or purple spots caused by bleeding into the skin and may be associated with various conditions, including liver disease, but they are not a specific sign of low albumin levels.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["167"]
Explanation
- Step 1: Identify the client's weight in pounds. The client weighs 245 lbs.
- Step 2: Convert the client's weight from pounds to kilograms. We know that 1 kg = 2.2 lbs. So, 245 lbs = 245 ÷ 2.2 kg. Calculating the division gives us approximately 111.36 kg.
- Step 3: Identify the prescribed dose in mg/kg. The client is scheduled to receive 1.5 mg/kg of enoxaparin.
- Step 4: Calculate the total dose in mg. We can do this by multiplying the client's weight in kg by the prescribed dose in mg/kg:
- Total dose = 1.5 mg/kg × 111.36 kg.
- Calculating the multiplication gives us approximately 167.04 mg.
- Step 5: Round the total dose to the nearest whole number. Rounding 167.04 gives us 167.
administer 167 mg of enoxaparin per dose.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: A client who works in a child care center is not typically at risk for hepatitis C unless they are exposed to blood or bodily fluids from an infected individual. Hepatitis C is primarily spread through blood-to-blood contact. While working in a child care center may increase the risk of exposure to various infections due to close contact with children, it is not a common route of transmission for hepatitis C.
Choice B reason: Eating raw shellfish is more commonly associated with hepatitis A and E, which are transmitted through the fecal-oral route, often due to contaminated food or water. Hepatitis C, however, is not typically transmitted through food or water. It is a bloodborne virus, and thus, eating raw shellfish would not be considered a high-risk activity for contracting hepatitis C.
Choice C reason: A client who has multiple tattoos is at risk for developing hepatitis C, particularly if the tattoos were done using non-sterile equipment or in an unregulated setting. The hepatitis C virus can be transmitted through the use of contaminated needles, which can occur in tattoo parlors that do not adhere to strict hygiene and sterilization practices. This is why choice C is the correct answer. While all the options presented could potentially involve some risk of infection, it is the client with multiple tattoos who is most at risk for hepatitis C, assuming the tattoos were obtained in a setting where infection control practices were not followed. It’s important for healthcare providers to assess each client’s individual risk factors and educate them on the ways to prevent hepatitis C, such as ensuring the use of sterile needles for tattoos and piercings.
Choice D reason: Traveling to an underdeveloped country may increase the risk of various infectious diseases, but hepatitis C is not commonly spread through casual contact or environmental factors. It requires blood-to-blood contact for transmission. Therefore, unless the client engaged in activities that involved such exposure, like receiving medical or dental procedures with non-sterile equipment, simply traveling to an underdeveloped country does not significantly increase the risk of contracting hepatitis C.
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